Guatemala remains a country that leaves human rights defenders, justice operators, indigenous leaders and journalists, according to the annual report of Amnesty International.
The investigation, entitled The situation of human rights in the worldwhich was presented this April 28, exposes continuity in the violation of human rights in Guatemala.
The document values aspects of freedom of expression, law and access to justice, and judicial independence for 2024. The evaluation was carried out from the collection of information from human rights defenders, government authorities, public sources and interviews with various sectors.
“The justice system in general is particularly bad, because due process is not met and there is a cruel lack of judicial independence,” said Adeline Nau, a researcher at Amnesty International for the Central America region.
The situation for human rights defenders and the civilian population in Guatemala is similar to that of recent years. There are still repressive attitudes against people or groups that think differently than those who occupy power positions in the country, according to the data collected by the organization.
“It has been evidenced that the Public Ministry (MP) and the Judicial Agency (OJ) are the main responsible for this persecution for political reasons against all those who have denounced corruption, impunity and attacks on the rule of law,” added Nau.
Some of the specific cases that, according to Amnesty, represent the lack of judicial independence include resolutions against the journalist José Rubén Zamora, who, due to a legal ruling, lost the benefit of house arrest and was returned to prison.
Luis Pacheco case
Although the report covers the events that occur only in 2024, at NAU’s discretion, the capture of the indigenous leader Luis Pacheco —exist of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán and current Vice Minister of Sustainable Development – is an example of the authoritarian and repressive behaviors that persist in the country.
“Protesting is not a crime; on the contrary, those who express make use of their rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful meeting. This includes protest planning activities. According to international law, the mere fact of organizing a peaceful meeting cannot be penalized by virtue of anti -terrorist laws,” he said.
For Nau, the actions taken by the MP against Pacheco and other indigenous leaders only seek to repress society in Guatemala.
“The criminal prosecution against indigenous leaders for their role in protests – saying them of terrorism, sedition, illicit association, among other crimes – evidences a repressive arsenal that is a clear sign of authoritarianism, of a will of the Public Ministry, once again, of wanting to repress the dissent and silence the voices that ask for justice and respect for the rule of law,” he said.
A court on duty ordered preventive detention for Pacheco and Héctor Manuel Batz Chaclán who must face process for crimes of terrorism and hindered criminal action.
Next year will end the constitutional period of the current Chief of the MP, as well as other key authorities in the country, such as the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) and the Constitutional Court (CC). These renewal processes, at NAU’s criteria, could further increase repression scenarios.
“Depending on who is running and who integrates the application commissions, there is definitely a risk of continuity in this ‘witch hunt’ against human rights defenders, journalists, prosecutors, judges or anyone who raises the voice. There could even be greater repression, which would be very serious,” he warned.
Actions are missing
On January 14, 2024, the government of Bernardo Arévalo and Karin Herrera took possession, to whom Amnesty International recognizes some actions to try to guarantee human rights in the country.
“We have seen some positive actions in this first year of government. For example, in the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, an internal mechanism was reactivated in the Ministry of the Interior for the risk analysis of exposed persons,” said NAU.
However, despite these first efforts, it considers that concrete actions are still needed by the Administration to guarantee the protection of defenders and the civilian population in the country.
“On the other hand, we saw important delays in other aspects. For example, as of April 2025, more than a year after this new government, a public policy for the protection of defenders has not yet been approved, who continue to face very high levels of risk. This is a great outstanding debt,” he concluded.