Our partners at Guatemala Human Rights Commission, GHRC, are asking individuals and human rights organizations to support a Dear Colleague letter initiated by Representative Raul Grijalva as another step Congress can take to support human rights defenders and the rule of law in Guatemala. We are asking that you call or email your representative in the House. GHRC has an action page where you can e-mail your representative and get the phone number to their office. Click here to see who your representative is.


The letter highlights the following: 

• The current Guatemalan amnesty law that would prevent justice for crimes against humanity carried out during the internal armed conflict,

• The impacts of Decree 4-2020, which allows the executive branch of the State discretionary powers to dissolve NGOs if their activities might “alter the public order,” and to prosecute their directors,

• The threats that democratic institutions, such as The Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, are undergoing,

• Cases of persecution against human rights defenders, such as the Bernardo Caal Xol case; and

• The corruption case of Juan Francisco Sandoval, former head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) and leading anti-corruption prosecutor.

Please help us work for the defense of human rights defenders, judges, and others who are under increasing attacks.