On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution taking stock of corruption in Guatemala.
MEPs express their deep concern at the increased number of killings, acts of violence, and the lack of security for all citizens in Guatemala, in particular women, human rights defenders, and journalists. Although Guatemala has continued to make some progress in prosecuting human rights and corruption cases, the misuse of criminal procedures to prevent or sanction the work of human rights defenders remains a matter of concern. In this regard, the European Parliament calls on Guatemalan authorities to cease intimidating Guatemalan civil society.
MEPs are also concerned about the current situation that the UN-backed International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) faces in the country. In January, the Guatemalan Government unilaterally cancelled CICIG‘s mandate with immediate effect and requested that this Commission must leave the country. Taking note of this, MEPs ask the Guatemalan Government to cease all illegal attacks against the CICIG and its national and international staff who had been investigating high-level cases of corruption.
The text was adopted by a show of hands.
