Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Defending Human Dignity

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission in Washington calls attention to the fight against violence and torture while celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary.

By Ramón Jiménez, El Tiempo Latino

November 9, 2007

Threats and attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala have increased by 360 percent in the last six years, according to representatives from the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC) in Washington, an organization that, on November 3 rd, celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.

“It is worrisome that the Guatemalan government has not responded to this situation, in which 98 percent of the cases have gone unpunished,” says Marty Jordan, co-director of the Commission.

Jordan stated that GHRC opposes torture and violence against women and at the same time lobbies the US Congress [for diplomatic pressure on and improved polices towards Guatemala]. GHRC also provides assistance in political asylum cases for Guatemalan citizens.

Also in attendance at the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration, which took place in the Mount Pleasant area, was Ruth Del Valle, founder of the National Movement for Human Rights in Guatemala, a network of human rights organizations.

Del Valle denounced the increase in murders in Guatemala. “In 2006 there were 12 murders each day and this year the number of deaths per day has increased to 16,” said the activist while demonstrating that she would like to see more control from the government.

Alvaro Colom’s victory in Guatemala’s presidential election last Sunday, November 4, has not been met with much enthusiasm from Del Valle. “The advantage that we see in the case of Alvaro Colom is that his vision for security is slightly more open; it is not a repressive vision. While his approach is not entirely clear, his position is more open to discussion,” said Del Valle.

According to the activist, another one of Colom’s advantages is that he has a political program. Nevertheless, she emphasized that although it is good that Colom does not have connections with the military, his economic position and the position of the current government are practically the same.

*Translated by Remle Crowe, GHRC Intern, November 12, 2007

 

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