“It was a precedence for me to return to Guatemala at a vital second in its historical past, and to help the nation in its efforts to strengthen democracy, the rule of regulation, to battle towards corruption and set up a transparent and transformative human rights agenda,” Volker Türk mentioned in a statement.
Preserving democracy
The UN rights chief mentioned that what occurred throughout the 2023 electoral interval was of utmost concern to him.
President Bernardo Arevalo, who campaigned on tackling corruption and insecurity, was elected final August however opponents repeatedly challenged the outcomes.
“I feared that the regressive forces who had co-opted the State constructions would additionally reach overturning the favored will expressed on the poll field,” he mentioned.
“The efforts and dedication of many sectors of society, particularly the 106-day mobilization of Indigenous Peoples and social actions, have been profitable in preserving democracy and the rule of regulation.”
Mr. Türk mentioned he noticed the Authorities’s “agency dedication” to the rule of regulation, democracy and human rights, and that the “human rights agenda” is a part of the Government’s programmes and actions.
Polarization and corruption
He warned, nevertheless, that the three powers of Authorities are usually not but working in concord.
“There’s huge polarization between State establishments,” he mentioned. “Public opinion is very fragmented. Corruption ranges stay very excessive. Distrust between completely different teams is rising.”
The Excessive Commissioner pressured the necessity to deal with a number of the nation’s important issues, together with excessive ranges of inequality, gender equality and violence towards ladies and ladies.
“Change is potential and it’s already occurring,” he insisted. “An instance of that’s the appointment by President Arévalo of six ladies governors.”
Discrimination, inequality and racism
He mentioned among the many most urgent challenges in Guatemala is the “devastating” structural discrimination, racism and inequality confronted by Indigenous Peoples and individuals of African descent, who represent nearly all of the nation’s inhabitants.
LGBTIQ+ neighborhood, individuals with disabilities and different susceptible teams additionally face discrimination, he added.
Cease persecuting activists
Mr. Türk expressed deep concern over the misuse of felony regulation to persecute human rights defenders, justice officers, journalists, college students and indigenous authorities. Dozens now “face judicial proceedings based mostly on spurious grounds”, and greater than 50 have fled the nation.
“I urge the Legal professional Common to undertake the mandatory measures in order that this persecution ends instantly. All these in exile ought to have the ability to return instantly and in secure situations,” he mentioned.
In pursuit of justice
Mr. Türk mentioned it was notably regrettable that folks working to stamp out corruption, or expose it, are being persecuted. Additionally affected are these looking for to make sure that critical human rights violations that occurred within the context of the inner armed battle from 1960 to 1996 don’t go unpunished
He famous the dearth of progress within the seek for justice, particularly the trials associated to the inner armed battle. Provisions of the Peace Accords haven’t been absolutely applied, particularly the ensures of non-repetition.
“This is the reason I’m involved in regards to the case of the ‘Alaska Summit Bloodbath’ in 2012, by which seven individuals died and dozens had been significantly injured when the military opened fireplace on a peaceable demonstration, and that it took almost 12 years for this case to return to trial,” he mentioned.
Whereas the challenges in Guatemala are “manifold”, Mr. Turk mentioned he was reassured that Authorities, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and the non-public sector “can reverse the course of the final a long time and enhance the promotion and safety of human rights in Guatemala.”
He urged the worldwide neighborhood to proceed supporting the Authorities’s efforts on this regard.
