The Guatemalan Congress has voted to establish a joint United Nations and Guatemalan Commission of Experts which will work to break the cycle of violence and challenge the culture of impunity.

Further information

Posted 03/08/2007 "This achievement in securing the consent of all the various interests and groups to finally take action to challenge the devastating cycle of impunity is a major step forward", said Claudia Samayoa of the Human Rights Protection Unit of the National Movement For Human Rights in Guatemala.

While Guatemala’s 36-year civil war ended in 1996 some of those responsible for committing the worst atrocities during that period formed illegal security organizations. These groups have now achieved significant levels of power and are active at all levels of society in, organized crime, drug trafficking, violence, and attacks against human rights defenders. The Guatemalan Government has been working with the help of the United Nations to establish this body.

Agreement to establish the Guatemalan – United Nations Commission against Impunity (CICIG) puts an end to the political in-fighting that has been going on for several years. The Commission is the first of its kind and will work to establish the extent of the illegal security organizations and their relations with State entities. It will also strengthen Guatemalan judicial institutions by assisting in the investigation and prosecution of such groups.

The Head of the Commission will be appointed by the U.N. Secretary-General. The Commission will consist of both international and Guatemalan investigators, forensic experts, prosecutors and jurists familiar with human rights, criminal and international law. It will have a renewable mandate of two years.