GUATEMALA: Presentation of the International Mission of Jurists’ final report on the situation of lawyers and judicial independence in Guatemala City
The final report of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala, in which the OIAD participated, entitled “Climate of Fear: The Legal Profession and Judicial Independence at Risk”, is now public. The document was presented on Monday, 9 March in Guatemala City before an audience of more than 50 people, including representatives of the Spanish Embassy.
The report was presented by three members of the delegation who directly participated in the field mission: César Sivo, Natalia Segura, and Germán Romero, who outlined the main findings of the work carried out during the visit and the results set out in the document.
Prominent representatives from the international human rights field also took part in the event. Andrea Pochak, Commissioner and Rapporteur for Guatemala at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and Margaret Satterthwaite, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, shared their assessment of the state of the rule of law and the protection of lawyers in the country.
The event also provided an opportunity to hear direct testimonies regarding the harassment faced by legal professionals in Guatemala. Indigenous lawyer Lucía Xiloj and Ramón Cadena (whose case was monitored by the OIAD), shared their personal experiences, offering first-hand insight into the risks and pressures they face in the exercise of their profession.
The report concludes that persistent practices of harassment, criminalisation, and persecution against justice operators and lawyers exist in Guatemala, aimed at obstructing investigations into corruption and serious human rights violations. According to the Mission, the criminal justice system is being weaponised through unfounded complaints, the abusive use of pre-trial detention, and judicial proceedings lacking sufficient guarantees.
These practices are coupled with smear campaigns, harassment, and public stigmatisation that undermine the independence of those working in the defence of justice. The report also warns about the impact of the forced exile of legal professionals and the co-optation of key institutions within the judicial system. It further highlights the differentiated impact of these dynamics on women lawyers, Indigenous communities, and human rights defenders.
The document sets out recommendations for the Guatemalan authorities, the international community, and international human rights protection mechanisms, aimed at strengthening judicial independence, protecting justice operators and legal professionals, and safeguarding the rule of law, particularly in the current context of the renewal processes of high-level judicial authorities.
Check out the report “Climate of Fear: The Legal Profession and Judicial Independence at Risk” HERE.
A recording of the report presentation is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S53ex6–3Fk.
