Guatemala: The Persecution of Anti-Corruption Officials and Activists (Meeting with Virginia Laparra - the “anti-mafia prosecutor" of Guatemala)

Guests:

Virginia Laparra - worked with the Prosecutor’s Office from 2006; then from 2016, Head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala’s second largest city, exposing and prosecuting those allegedly responsible for rights violations linked to corruption within state structures.

Susi Bascon -  representing Fund for Global Human Rights; co-founder and Senior Advisor of Roots2Justice; Trustee of Alliance for Lawyers at Risk, and previously Director of UK Section of Peace Brigades International (PBI UK).

Chair: Fabian Hamilton MP – Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG)

Summary:

The meeting organised by the PHRG highlighted the many challenges facing champions of democracy and rule of law in Guatemala, with Virginia Laparra providing powerful first-hand testimony of extensive and ongoing persecution because of her anti-corruption work.

Main Points:

Fabian Hamilton MP emphasised the fragility of democracy and rule of law in Guatemala currently, despite the election of President Arévalo, who stood on an anti-corruption platform, and noted:

• The office of Attorney General Consuelo Porras is waging a campaign of politically motivated prosecutions, including against journalists, rights activists, prosecutors, and Arévalo administration officials, with many in prison, exiled or silenced.

• Things could have been very different if the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), set up in 2006 with UN backing, had not been shut down in 2019 by the then President, under pressure from those being investigated. 

Virginia Laparra explained that the legal system has been weaponised against those upholding rights and rule of law, following concerted attempts to discredit CICIG’s work. Also:

• She detailed the vicious campaign of persecution against her: smear campaigns, civil and criminal prosecutions marked by serious due process failings, detention in a psychiatric hospital, and in a high security military prison with time in solitary.  

• She has had to flee the country for her own safety, leaving her family behind.

• Others, many of whom had worked for/with CICIG, have faced similar experiences.

• Some cases of concern:

  • Juan Francisco Sandoval: former FECI head - now in exile.

  • Flor de María Gálvez Álvarez: lawyer who worked for CICIG - now in exile;

  • Claudia González Orellana: criminal lawyer, who defended Virginia and Juan - in prison then house arrest, with proceedings continuing;

  • Stuardo Campos: anti-corruption prosecutor - in prison;

  • Eduardo Masaya: anti-corruption lawyer – in prison.

• She stressed importance of international support for the persecuted, including from the UK Government, Parliament, and CSOs, with:

  • public statements of support for rights and rule of law champions;

  • prison visits, trial observation and diplomatic representations about those imprisoned;

  • financial and other support for the exiled;

  • sanctions – also on A-G, Consuelo Porras, in line with US and EU;

  • Parliamentary Debates/Questions, raising awareness and calling for UK Government action; and

  • international recognition.

• In connection with the latter, she was in London to receive the Henry Brooke Award from Lord Neuberger on behalf of Alliance of Lawyers at Risk, for her outstanding contribution to the promotion, protection and advancement of rights and rule of law.

• She emphasised the importance of ensuring progressive candidates for A-G post can be considered by President Arévalo when current A-G's term ends in May 2026.

The PHRG is committed to supporting rights and rule of law champions in Guatemala, by raising awareness of their concerns and needs in Parliament, with Government and more widely, and closely monitoring developments there.

Pictured (left to right): Fabian Hamilton MP, Virginia Laparra and Lord Mountevans