Summary
Guatemalan justice sector actors known for being independent and impartial are facing a new slew of threats to their careers and professional integrity. Increasing efforts to rid the justice sector of the dwindling number of rule of law defenders that remain is part of what appears to be a larger, systematic plan to return Guatemala to a state of impunity. These attempts are spurring on the rule of law backsliding which began with the attack against the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and have created an exigent situation. Corruption and impunity will prevail again if something is not done soon to protect Guatemala’s independent and impartial justice sector actors.
Authors: Jaime Chávez Alor (Latin America Policy Director at Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice) and Lauren McIntosh (Legal Advisor at ILAC).