• Human Rights in Guatemala

    Guatemala’s law enforcement institutions have proved incapable of containing the powerful organized crime groups and criminal gangs that contribute to one of the highest violent crime rates in the Americas. Illegal armed groups are believed to be responsible for ongoing threats and targeted attacks against civil society actors and justice officials.

    Although impunity remains the norm for human rights violations, there were significant advances for accountability in 2011, including convictions of four former officers for a notorious massacre in 1982 and the first arrest of a top-ranking official for human rights violations.  

  • Guatemala: Swift Charges Against Soldiers for Killing Protesters
    Oct 11, 2012
    The prompt and comprehensive investigation by the prosecutor’s office into killings at a recent protest in Totonicapán is an important step toward accountability in Guatemala, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Guatemala: Reject Bill Threatening Families
    Sep 30, 2007
    Guatemalan legislators should protect all families by voting against the “Integral Protection for Marriage and Family Act,” Human Rights Watch urged today in a letter to the Guatemalan Congress.
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Guatemala

  • Guatemala: Swift Charges Against Soldiers for Killing Protesters
    Oct 11, 2012
    The prompt and comprehensive investigation by the prosecutor’s office into killings at a recent protest in Totonicapán is an important step toward accountability in Guatemala, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Some Thoughts for Labor Day
    Sep 8, 2009
    Labor Day? Let's be real. The last thing on our minds this weekend is labor rights. Whether we're fortunate enough to have a job or worrying about how to get one in today's economy, we'll focus more on this summer's last hurrah than on the Tuesday- morning-after travails.
  • Universal Periodic Review of Guatemala
    May 4, 2008
    The country continues to face high levels of violence associated with both electoral politics and common crime. Guatemala’s weak and corrupt law enforcement institutions have proven incapable of containing the powerful organized crime groups that, among other things, are believed responsible for continuing attacks on human rights defenders.
  • Guatemala Legislature Drops Restrictive Family Bill
    Nov 1, 2007
  • Guatemala: Reject Bill Threatening Families
    Sep 30, 2007
    Guatemalan legislators should protect all families by voting against the “Integral Protection for Marriage and Family Act,” Human Rights Watch urged today in a letter to the Guatemalan Congress.
  • Letter to the Guatemalan Congress Regarding Marriage and Family Law
    Sep 30, 2007
    On behalf of Human Rights Watch, I urge you to vote against the approval of the “Integral Protection for Marriage and Family Act.” This legislative initiative would write discriminatory treatment of families into law.
  • Guatemala: Investigate Killing of Activist’s Son
    Aug 21, 2007
    The Guatemalan authorities should promptly and thoroughly investigate the killing of José Emanuel Méndez Dardón, the son of a prominent human rights advocate, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Domestic Workers Abused Worldwide
    Jul 27, 2006
    Domestic workers face a wide range of grave abuses and labor exploitation, including physical and sexual abuse, forced confinement, non-payment of wages, denial of food and health care and excessive working hours with no rest days.
  • AIDS: Success in Fight Threatened by Rights Abuses
    Jul 17, 2006
    Ongoing rights abuses are undermining efforts to fight the HIV pandemic and threatening the few, hard-won successes, Human Rights Watch said today, a month before the XVI International AIDS Conference opens in Toronto.
  • Guatemala: Transgender People Face Deadly Attacks
    Feb 20, 2006
    The Guatemalan government must take immediate steps to stop a pattern of deadly attacks and possible police violence against transgender women and gay men, and end impunity for these crimes, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger.
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