HRF Hosts Event on UN Commission in Guatemala
On July 7, 2009, Human Rights First and the International Peace Institute co-hosted a policy forum “Confronting Organized Crime: Learning from the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG)”. The panel featured Carlos Castresana, CICIG’s Commissioner, and HRF Senior Associate, Andrew Hudson.
CICIG, a joint venture between the Guatemalan government and the United Nations, is a groundbreaking international criminal justice mechanism, but until recently has received little international attention. It is investigating a range of high-profile cases in Guatemala with international ramifications.
The Panel addressed the following questions: What is the mandate of CICIG and what are its powers to dismantle illegal security forces and clandestine security organizations? What challenges does it face? Is its hybrid nature a hindrance or an advantage? How will it balance its prosecutorial and non-prosecutorial functions and strengthen local capacity? Where does CICIG fit in the spectrum of criminal justice assistance the UN is providing around the world? What lessons can be drawn from CICIG's experiences for member states and for the international system more broadly?
HRF and IPI co-hosted a policy forum on CICIG, July 7, 2009 (George Vickers, Open Society Institute, Andrew Hudson, Human Rights First, Carlos Castresana, CICIG and Saul Weisleder, IPI).
Carlos Castresana, CICIG’s Commissioner, spoke of CICIG’s challenges and successes.
Andrew Hudson, Senior Associate at Human Rights First, spoke of CICIG as a model for strengthening the rule of law in other countries.
Members of the panel stressed the need for CICIG to engage with Guatemalan civil society in order to be successful.
At the end of the forum, Mr. Castresana answered more questions from members of the audience.