MEPs expressed concern about the deterioration of the Rule of law in Guatemala, including legal action taken by the Guatemalan Supreme Court and Attorney General against judicial staff investigating criminal structures linked to senior State officials and business owners, in a joint resolution by the S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups adopted by a show of hands on Thursday 7 April in Strasbourg.
The European Parliament calls on the country’s authorities to conduct impartial investigations into threats and harassment of judicial officials and civil society actors.
The Guatemalan government is also urged to act to strengthen legislation and policies protecting human rights defenders, including environmental defenders and journalists.
The Parliament calls for the mechanisms provided for in the EU/Central America Association Agreement to be used to encourage Guatemala to improve human rights and fight impunity. In doing so, it rejected an amendment from The Left group calling for the “immediate suspension” of the ‘trade’ portion of the association agreement with Guatemala.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/16c (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)