(AP Photo Moises Castillo)
(AP Photo Moises Castillo)
The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) has been a pioneering example of how the international community can support countries mired in impunity. CICIG has tackled entrenched, high-level corruption, prompted important legal reforms, and built domestic capacity. In doing all of this, it has earned the Guatemalan people’s overwhelming approval. People sick of corruption in other countries have taken heart from the Guatemalan experience, have learned from it, and have sought to replicate it elsewhere. The international community should support and celebrate this success.
In its 12 years, CICIG played a crucial role in strengthening Guatemalan investigative and prosecutorial institutions, advancing paradigmatic corruption cases, and prosecuting powerful criminals (including 70 criminal structures dismantled), providing international support on 34 key legal reforms, promoting the adoption of modern investigative tools and techniques and strengthening–even safeguarding–state institutions and the democratic system.
In recent years, Latin American countries–and many countries the world over–have been afflicted by major cases of corruption and, as a consequence, grave and massive violations of human rights. The infiltration of the state apparatus by criminal elements in various countries has increased in size and scope. It has also become more sophisticated and complex. The highest public authorities in some states have been complicit in corruption or captured by organized crime, sparking citizen anger and calls for accountability. Unfortunately, however, many such cases remain beset by impunity, with criminal justice systems struggling to investigate and prosecute powerful perpetrators.
Working closely with national authorities, CICIG’s work has resulted in more than 320 investigations and the prosecution of various prominent government officials, dozens of powerful drug traffickers, extortion rings, politicians, and senior security officials.
Twelve years ago, when CICIG began its operations, Guatemala was one of the most extreme examples of this affliction. At the time, tackling the parallel power seemed an impossible task, impunity ran rampant and many leading figures were perceived as simply untouchable. During its tenure, CICIG shattered these perceptions. Working closely with national authorities, CICIG’s work has resulted in more than 320 investigations and the prosecution of various prominent government officials, dozens of powerful drug traffickers, extortion rings, politicians, and senior security officials. Moreover, its investigations have ousted more than a dozen corrupt judges and thousands of corrupt police officers. Walking hand in hand with CICIG, Guatemala became a world leader in the fight against corruption and the domestic prosecution of international crimes.
The government’s decision to unilaterally end the agreement between the UN and Guatemala– and the continued violation of its treaty obligations –should not be what CICIG is remembered for. Rather, it should serve as a reminder that those who benefit from corruption will do anything in their power to prevent such initiatives from succeeding. It should also serve as a warning to the international community that accountability initiatives only succeed where domestic desire for justice is backed by consistent and strong international support. It was the erosion of this support over the past two years that allowed corrupt actors to undermine CICIG’s mandate, roll back prosecutorial and judicial independence, and launch ongoing, dangerous attacks on the country’s Constitutional Court.
The government’s decision to unilaterally end the agreement between the UN and Guatemala–and the continued violation of its treaty obligations–should not be what CICIG is remembered for. Rather, it should serve as a reminder that those who benefit from corruption will do anything in their power to prevent such initiatives from succeeding.
Combatting corruption and impunity are central elements in the protection of human rights. Tackling corruption and organized crime is not only in the state’s interest but is also an obligation under international law. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights has stated that efforts to combat corruption are essential to securing the enjoyment of human rights recognized by the American Convention, notably economic, social, and cultural rights, which depend on transparent and effective governance. Corruption in the management of public resources jeopardizes the government’s capacity to meet its social rights obligations, namely “with regard to food, health, work, education, a dignified life, and justice.” The Inter-American system of human rights must continue to stand by these words and defend these mechanisms and their work with all the tools at its disposal as the ultimate protectors of the people’s rights.
We express our deep concern about the murders of human rights defenders and the criminalization of the journalists, lawyers, and prosecutors that were part of the fight against corruption in Guatemala. We request to the Attorney General’s Office and authorities of the new Guatemalan government to safeguard the advances that have been made and keep toiling in the fight against impunity. Crucially, it is essential to facilitate the work of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (Fiscalia Especial contra la Impunidad, FECI), currently involved in several ongoing, high-level corruption investigations.
Through integrated and multilateral support, institutions from the Organization of American States, and the United Nations, the international community must be prepared to help Guatemala resume its fight against impunity when it is ready, and learn from the challenges CICIG has faced to respond effectively to those people and governments who have drawn hope and inspiration from CICIG’s success.
Endorsing organizations:
American Jewish World Service, United States
Article 19, Mexico and Central America
BUSCAME, Mexico
Caleidoscopio Humano (CH), Venezuela
CENCOS, Mexico
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) DC, United States
Centro de Justicia para la Paz y el Desarrollo, Mexico
CEDH-UCAB, Venezuela
Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez (Centro Prodh), Mexico
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Regional
Cepaz, Venezuela
Coalición Contra la impunidad (CCI), Honduras
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas, Colombia
Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos, Ecuador
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos
Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Peru
Cristosal, El Salvador
Defensa en Acción, Venezuela
Dejusticia, Colombia
Desaparecidos del Fuerte y Zona Norte A.C., Mexico
Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), Regional
The National Security Archive, United States
El Día Después, México
Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC), Honduras
Fuerzas Unidas por Nuestros Desaparecidos Coahuila (FUUNDEC)
Fuerzas Unidas por Nuestros Desaparecidos Jalisco (FUNDEJ)
Fuerzas Unidas por Nuestros Desaparecidos Mexico (FUUNDEM)
Fundación Aguaclara, Venezuela
Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo (FCD), Ecuador
Fundación Find, México
Fundación Nacional para el Desarrollo (FUNDE), El Salvador Chapter of Transparency International
FESPAD, El Salvador
Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho (FJEDD), Mexico
Fundación Tribuna Constitucional, Bolivia
Grupo Interdisciplinario por los Derechos Humanos GIDH, Colombia
Guatemala Human Rights Commission, United States
Heinrich Böll Stiftung – San Salvador Office
I(dh)eas, Strategic Human Rights Litigation, Mexico
Impunity Watch, International
Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir (ILSB), Mexico
Instituto Mexicano de Derechos Humanos y Democracia A.C. (IMDHD), Mexico
Instituto para la Seguridad y la Democracia (Insyde), Mexico
JASS Mesoamérica (Just Associates), Regional
Laboratorio de Innovación para la Paz, Mexico
Laboratorio de Paz, Venezuela
Latin America Working Group (LAWG), Regional
México Unido Contra la Delincuencia, AC, Mexico
Observatorio Designaciones Públicas, Mexico
Observatorio Derechos Humanos y Justicia, Ecuador
Open Society Justice Initiative, International
Organización Nacional Anticorrupción (ONEA), Mexico
Oxfam America, International
Paz y Esperanza, Peru
Plataforma Contra la Impunidad, International
Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (Provea), Venezuela
Promoción Educación y Defensa en Derechos Humanos (PROMEDEHUM), Venezuela
Renacer Lagunero, Mexico
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, International
Sabuesos Guerreras, Mexico
Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz A.C. (Serapaz), Mexico
Synergía – Initiatives for Human Rights, Regional
The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), International
Tlachinollán, Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montana, Mexico
Transparency International, Venezuela Chapter
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), Regional
Zacatecanas y zacatecanos por la Paz, México
And the National Human Rights Network “All Rights for All” (made up of 87 organizations in 23 Mexican states):
Academia Hidalguense de Educación y Derechos Humanos A.C. (ACADERH) (Hidalgo); Agenda LGBT (Estado de México); Alianza Sierra Madre, A.C. (Chihuahua); Aluna Acompañamiento Psicosocial, A.C.(Ciudad de México); Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (AsiLegal) (Ciudad de México); Asociación Jalisciense de Apoyo a los Grupos Indígenas, A.C. (AJAGI) (Guadalajara, Jal.); Asociación para la Defensa de los Derechos Ciudadanos “Miguel Hidalgo” (Jacala Hgo.); Bowerasa, A.C. “Haciendo Camino” (Chihuahua, Chih.); Casa del Migrante Saltillo (Saltillo, Coah.); Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, A.C. (Ciudad de México); Centro de Capacitación y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos e Indígenas, Asociación Civil (CECADDHI) (Chihuahua); Centro “Fray Julián Garcés” Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Local, A. C. (Tlaxcala, Tlax.); Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador, A.C. (CAT) (Ciudad de México); Centro de Derechos de la Mujeres de Chiapas (San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chis.); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Don Sergio” (Jiutepec, Mor.); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas”, A. C. (San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chis); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Francisco de Vitoria O.P.”, A. C. (Ciudad de México); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Matías de Córdova”, A.C. (Tapachula, Chis.); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Juan Gerardi”, A. C. (Torreón, Coah.); Centro de Derechos Humanos “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez”, A. C. (Ciudad de México); Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña, Tlachinollan, A. C. (Tlapa, Gro.); Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (Chihuahua); Centro de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos del Sur de Veracruz “Bety Cariño”, A.C. (Tatahuicapan de Juárez, Ver.); Centro de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa, A.C (Tonalá, Chis.); Centro de Derechos Humanos Paso del Norte (Cd. Juárez, Chih.); Centro de Derechos Humanos Toaltepeyolo (Orizaba, Veracruz); Centro de Derechos Humanos Victoria Diez, A.C. (León, Gto.); Centro de Derechos Humanos Zeferino Ladrillero (CDHZL) (Estado de México); Centro de Derechos Indígenas “Flor y Canto”, A. C. (Oaxaca, Oax.); Centro de Derechos Indígenas A. C. (Bachajón, Chis.); Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Propuesta Cívica A. C. (Propuesta Cívica) (Ciudad de México); Centro de Justicia para la Paz y el Desarrollo, A. C. (CEPAD) (Guadalajara, Jal.); Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (Ciudad de México); Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral (CEREAL-Guadalajara) (Guadalajara, Jal.); Centro Diocesano para los Derechos Humanos “Fray Juan de Larios”, A.C. (Saltillo, Coah.); Centro Juvenil Generando Dignidad (Comalcalco, Tabasco); Centro Kalli Luz Marina (Orizaba, Ver.); Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA) (Ciudad de México); Centro Mujeres (La Paz, BCS.); Centro Regional de Defensa de DDHH José María Morelos y Pavón, A.C. (Chilapa, Gro.); Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco”, A.C. (BARCA) (Oaxaca, Oax.); Ciencia Social Alternativa, A.C. KOOKAY (Mérida, Yuc.); Ciudadanía Lagunera por los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CILADHAC) (Torreón, Coah.); Colectivo contra la Tortura y la Impunidad (CCTI) (Ciudad de México); Colectivo Educación para la Paz y los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CEPAZDH) (San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chis.); Comisión Ciudadana de Derechos Humanos del Noroeste (Mexicali, Baja California); Comisión de Derechos Humanos y Laborales del Valle de Tehuacán, A.C. (Tehuacán, Pue.); Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (COSYDDHAC) (Chihuahua, Chih.); Comisión Independiente de Derechos Humanos de Morelos, A. C. (CIDHMOR) (Cuernavaca, Mor.); Comisión Regional de Derechos Humanos “Mahatma Gandhi”, A. C. (Tuxtepec, Oax.); Comité Cerezo (Ciudad de México); Comité Cristiano de Solidaridad Monseñor Romero (Ciudad de México); Comité de Defensa de las Libertades Indígenas (Palenque, Chis.); Comité de Defensa Integral de Derechos Humanos Gobixha A.C. (CODIGODH) (Oaxaca, Oax.); Comité de Derechos Humanos “Fr. Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada”, A. C. (Ocosingo, Chis.); Comité de Derechos Humanos “Sierra Norte de Veracruz”, A. C. (Huayacocotla, Ver.); Comité de Derechos Humanos Ajusco (Ciudad de México); Comité de Derechos Humanos de Colima No Gubermantal A. C. (Colima, Col.); Comité de Derechos Humanos de Comalcalco, A. C. (CODEHUCO) (Comalcalco, Tab); Comité de Derechos Humanos de Tabasco, A. C. (CODEHUTAB) (Villahermosa, Tab); Comité de Derechos Humanos y Orientación Miguel Hidalgo, A. C. (Dolores Hidalgo, Gto.); Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos “Hasta Encontrarlos”(Ciudad de México); Comité Sergio Méndez Arceo Pro Derechos Humanos de Tulancingo, Hgo A.C. (Tulancingo, Hgo.); Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria AC (CONTEC) (Chihuahua); El Caracol, A.C (Ciudad de México); Estancia del Migrante González y Martínez, A.C. (Querétaro, Qro.); Frente Cívico Sinaloense. Secretaría de Derechos Humanos (Culiacán, Sin.); Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho (Ciudad de México); Indignación, A. C. Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (Mérida, Yuc.); Instituto de Derechos Humanos Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J. Universidad Iberoamericana- Puebla (Puebla, Pue.); Instituto Mexicano de Derechos Humanos y Democracia (Ciudad de México); Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario, A. C. (IMDEC) (Guadalajara, Jal.); Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente. Programa Institucional de Derechos Humanos y Paz (Guadalajara, Jal.); Justicia, Derechos Humanos y Género, A.C. (Ciudad de México); La 72, Hogar-Refugio para Personas Migrantes (La 72) (Tenosique, Tabasco); Mujeres Indígenas por la Conservación, Investigación y Aprovechamiento de los Recursos Naturales, A. C. (CIARENA) (Oaxaca); Oficina de Defensoría de los Derechos de la Infancia A.C. (ODI) (Ciudad de México); Promoción de los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (PRODESCAC) (Estado de México); Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (ProDESC) (Ciudad de México); Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER) (Ciudad de México); Red Solidaria de Derechos Humanos, A.C. (Morelia, Michoacán); Respuesta Alternativa, A. C. Servicio de Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Comunitario (San Luis Potosí); Servicio, Paz y Justicia de Tabasco, A.C. (SERPATAB) (Villahermosa, Tab.); Servicios de Inclusión Integral, A.C. (SEIINAC) (Pachuca, Hgo.); Tequio Jurídico A.C. (Oaxaca, Oax.); VIHas de Vida (Guadalajara, Jal.); Voces Mesoamericanas, Acción con Pueblos Migrantes AC (San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas).
Independent Experts:
Diana C. Iris García.
Daniel Vázquez, profesor el IIJ-UNAM y FLACSO-México.
Alberto Athie.
Eliana García.
Silvano Cantú.
Marcela Villalobos.
Michael Chamberlin.
Mara Gómez Pérez.
Mariclaire Acosta.
Chrístel Rosales.
Nicómedes Fuentes García
Simón Hernández León
Itzel Checa
Jorge Javier Romero
