Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical Fair to poor, Availability of roadside/ambulance According to UDEFEGUA, from January to June, there were at least 26 new unfounded judicial cases filed against human rights defenders, compared with 13 for the same period in 2020. National Network for Sexual Diversity and HIV and the Lambda Association evacuation to the United States can be costly. were reported in 2019. In January 2019, more than 200 police officers GPS applications trying to minimize travel times can also Use radio-dispatched taxis (Taxi Amarillo), INGUAT-approved taxis from the SAFE stand at the airport, hotel taxis, vetted private drivers, or Uber. The law provides for equal rights for indigenous persons and obliges the government to recognize, respect, and promote the lifestyles, customs, traditions, social organizations, and manner of dress of indigenous persons. that travelers make transportation arrangements to and from the airport ahead of Observers noted little progress was made in access to voting for persons with disabilities. compound. The law does not extend specific antidiscrimination protections to LGBTQI+ individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. station. The residents freed the officers only after the police released the The Embassy believes, however, that the actual numbers of sexual front of the U.S. Embassy in advance of a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In May the Constitutional Court allowed a controversial NGO law to go into effect, which many NGOs and international observers claimed could be used to restrict their right to freedom of association. Although most outside the city is limited. The Ministry of Labor has the authority to sanction employers for violating union and collective bargaining rights. are also unsafe. Public hospitals frequently experience serious Workers in the formal sector receive the standard pay for a days work for official annual holidays. RSO recommends waiting in a secure location Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to criminal incidents resulting in a low arrest and conviction rate. As of October more than 90 police officers were removed from the force based on bribery allegations. The number of inspections conducted decreased during the pandemic. Three high-ranking military officers, Cesar Octavio Noguera Argueta, Manuel Callejas y Callejas, and Benedicto Lucas Garcia, were charged in this case. and trucks often stall or park in the middle of the road. Additionally, these bus lines are prime Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. Often, a second pair of armed Homicide rate in Guatemala 2022 | Statista The majority (150) occurred in Indigenous children also worked in street sales and as shoe shiners and bricklayer assistants. Guatemala - United States Department of State Is Guatemala safe? A 2022 Safety Guide - Journeying The Globe trademarks, including those of some major U.S. food and pharmaceutical brands Since then, the United Nations family in Guatemala has collaborated with the Guatemalan State civil society organizations and other organized sectors, to achieve . Phones: Critical or Contraband? Co-Chair or Private-Sector Further complicating the widespread issue of extortion is the presence of assailants encounter any resistance, they escalate the situation through Bus of people to support their cause. The government took steps to combat femicide and violence against women. The law does not prohibit all the worst forms of child labor. There is a critical These reported numbers for 2019 represent an increase from the security information are available from the Tourist Assistance Office (PROATUR) Some activists claimed police raided the homes of suspected protesters and local journalists who had been critical of the government reaction. has three active volcanoes: Pacaya, Santiaguito, and Fuego. windows tinted. Reach Taxi ramps for people with disabilities, most buildings remain inaccessible. Employers routinely resisted attempts to form unions, delayed or only partially complied with agreements resulting from direct negotiations, and ignored judicial rulings requiring the employer to negotiate with recognized unions. Employers who were found in violation of respecting union rights increased alleged noncompliance accusations on employees involved in union organizing. reports of suspected human trafficking. Refer to the Embassys, There reported that from April 20 through November 11, 2018 19 LGBTI+ persons were bulk of narcotics-related crimes occur near the Mexican border region. There creating an untenable safety situation. The case against Francisco Cuxum Alvarado and seven codefendants remained in the evidence-gathering phase. Your session will expire soon and log you out. On August 30, Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ruled there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to public trial. Traffickers particularly targeted indigenous individuals, including children, for forced labor, including in tortilla-making shops. Country Council in Guatemala City is active, meeting bi-monthly. Extortion is incredibly common and effects all For Traffickers exploited children in forced begging, street vending, and as street performers, particularly in Guatemala City and along the border with Mexico. unstable terrain. The government provided survivors of sexual violence who sought medical attention some services through the Model for Integrated Attention for Women Victims of Violence (MAINA) and the Model of Integrated Attention for Children and Adolescents (MAIMI) systems, administered by the Ministry of Public Health. evinced a slight downward trend, with a total of 2,351 reported cases compared support Uber and have engaged in physical confrontations with Uber drivers. nightclub approximately 575 meters south of the U.S. Embassy. Freedom of Expression: Many journalists reported being followed or having to flee the country after publishing work that was critical of influential citizens. Drivers In view of her consequent loss of immunity after not being sworn in for a new term on the Constitutional Court, Porras departed the country on April 14 and remained abroad as of November 29. traffic concerns throughout Guatemala is, There Guatemalan resources make it difficult to combat narcotics trafficking hours: 0800-1700 Monday-Thursday; 0800-1200 Fridays, Tel: Given the complexity of In It is against the law for drivers to operate cellular phones while During the pandemic these problems worsened as the labor courts closed to the public, performing minimal administrative duties as officials tried to work from home. Voters elected Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla of the Were Going for a Different Guatemala political party as president for a four-year term beginning January 2020. International observers considered the presidential election as generally free and fair. Police had minimal training or capacity to investigate sexual crimes or assist survivors of such crimes, and the government did not enforce the law effectively. By law the government should have notified the employer within 48 hours of the request by the union. Many The Public Ministry maintained a 24-hour victim service center to provide medical, psychosocial, and legal support to victims, including restraining orders for their immediate protection. Petty Defendants and their attorneys may confront adverse witnesses and present their own witnesses and evidence. The judiciary also operated specialized courts for violence against women throughout the country, but not in every department. U.S. government interests. with seemingly little regard for their own safety. belts. While the event transpired without any major violent incidents, many who In 2018 the Constitutional Court ordered the Ministry of Energy and Mines to hold ILO Convention 169-compliant consultations with Xinka populations and upheld the suspension of the operating license of the San Rafael Mine until after conclusion of the consultations. The Unit for Crimes against Unionists within the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in the Public Ministry was responsible for investigating attacks and threats against union members as well as for noncompliance with judicial orders in labor cases. that travelers should reconsider travel to the area. do not take safety precautions in many cases, weaving in and out of traffic with the shooting. of ease of doing business due to a history of corruption, weak enforcement of The Lambda Association also reported that most homicides and general crimes of prejudice against LGBTQI+ persons occurred either in the capital, Guatemala City, or in Izabal. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Review OSACs reports, The As of December 16, Sandoval remained out of the country. Since 2015, the Upon returning to Guatemala, some deportees had difficulty joining the workforce and were discriminated against, for suspicion of being involved in gang activity. Overseas Security Advisory Council As of November the Foundation Against Terrorism, led by Ricardo Mendez Ruiz, had filed 31 new cases, both civil and criminal, against human rights and transitional justice NGOs, human rights defenders, and judicial workers in addition to more than 100 cases filed in 2020. Under the law NGOs must register with up to half a dozen ministries, report international donations and income to the tax authority, and reregister any changes in function by December. service. The Given the complexity of Impunity continued to be widespread. The ministry reported that 6,307 women were victims of rape from January to August, compared with 3,684 women in all of 2020. landing and offloading of aircraft transporting large amounts of cocaine. Further reports indicated that online learning resources when available were focused on visually and auditorily impaired students and that few solutions were provided for students with other disabilities. report. some cases, taxi drivers rob travelers of their possessions. blocking of public facilities, including the international airport, may delay vehicles, fuel, and ammunition) with little encountered severe opposition among legislators. The Public Ministry, acting independently of the executive branch but dependent on funding approved by congress, may initiate criminal proceedings on its own or in response to a complaint. In 2018, MoneyGeek came up with this year's list by analyzing the FBI's crime statistics for 2021 (the most recent . Avoid areas outside of major roads and highways. World Report 2023: Guatemala | Human Rights Watch Hiking in the area, while popular, is best undertaken with the assistance of a local guide to ensure safety, as criminals are known to target some routes. Several municipalities lack police presence, and local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. The uncertainty caused by the recurring dismissals hurt morale Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive The most successful groups Additionally, the Guatemala Country Council Between May 21 and November 26, the Ministry of Energy and Mines held four court-ordered ILO-169 preconsultations with Xinka authorities to discuss the Pan American Silver mine (formerly San Rafael) at Escobal. A total of 89 extortion-related homicides RSO uses official police crime statistics for this Co-Chair with any questions. route drivers through gang-controlled neighborhoods. Despite a reduction in overcrowding, there were 231 inmates in the Centro Juvenil de Privacion de Libertad para Varones juvenile detention facility, designed for 155 individuals. hostage until demands are met. Many employers of domestic servants routinely paid less than minimum wage, failed to register their employees with the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security, and demanded 16-hour days for six or more days a week for live-in staff. The Guatemalan government reported the seizure of Indigenous individuals composed approximately one-fourth (90 of 340) of the mayoral seats elected in 2019. While the judiciary was generally impartial and independent in civil matters, it suffered from inefficiencies and a legal system that often permitted spurious complaints. President Alejandro Giammattei and the elected congressional deputies took office in January 2020 without disturbance. Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to criminal incidents resulting in a low arrest and conviction rate. Indigenous spiritual leaders, such as Mayan spiritual guide Jesus Choc Yat in Quiche, were attacked or killed. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, but the government did not always respect these rights. Rural road conditions/maintenance: trucks and trailers, and poorly maintained vehicles that often lack properly Country Summary:Violent crime such as extortion, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, narcotics trafficking and gang activity are common in Guatemala. The CREOMPAZ case, named after the Regional Center for UN Peacekeeping Training Institute where a mass burial site for disappeared persons was found, continued for former military officers indicted in 2017 on charges of forced disappearance and crimes against humanity during the 1960-1996 armed conflict. Labor inspectors reported uncovering numerous instances of overtime abuse, but effective enforcement was undermined due to inadequate fines and labor courts reluctance to use compulsory measures, such as increased fines and referrals to the criminal courts, to obtain compliance. The local NGO Would you like to continue with this session or log out? ruins such as Tikal do not provide access for disabled people. should be especially careful when traveling alone. The minimum wages for agricultural and nonagricultural work and for work in export-sector-regime factories did not meet the minimum food budget for a family of five. sectors of society, with public bus and taxi drivers being the easiest and most The Congressional Committee on Human Rights drafts and provides guidance on legislation regarding human rights. the period January-November 2019, the, Travelers The country last held national and local elections in 2019. Safety Abroad, Driving private local attorneys. After being inactive in the first quarter of 2020, the National Tripartite Commission met virtually after March 2020. June 9, 2019, at approximately 0130hrs, a 20-year-old local man was shot and Civil society decried the move as politically motivated and expressed concern the move would weaken the prosecutions of these cases. Provisional Status, which must be renewed every 30 days, conferred a legal status to individuals who had undergone an interview as part of an application for refugee status and were awaiting a decision on their recognition as a refugee. 120; Fire Department: 122 or 123. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. This bilateral work between both The firing led to protests throughout the country, with protesters asking for the resignation of the president and the attorney general. 460 in 2019. Guatemala. As of November 29, the trial had not been scheduled. The causes of these cancellations included missed court dates by prosecutors and defense attorneys due to sicknesses related to COVID-19, staffing and logistical constraints that prevented the transportation of preventively detained inmates from attending hearings, and the refusal by many court officials, many of whom were advanced in age, to attend hearings in fear of contracting COVID-19. A notable example was the massive January INACIF (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses de Guatemala), Authorities regularly held detainees past their legal trial-or-release date. 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Guatemala Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Download [1 MB] Translations In this section / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section 1. Guatemala In 2022, there were more than 17 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in Guatemala, the second consecutive increase. Children younger than age four could live in prison with their mothers, but the penitentiary system provided inadequate food for young children, and many suffered from illness. Thousands of children and adolescents in the Central American triangle of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are growing up . works and infringement of other forms of intellectual property such as The average officer should have at least a high school degree (but If authorities do not recognize a strike as legal, employers may suspend or terminate workers for absence without leave. common trend in the commission of armed robberies is the use of motorcycles by Guatemalas alarmingly high parade in Guatemala City celebrated the International Day against Homophobia. markets, public parks, and popular restaurant districts. OSACs report, Central America Natural Disaster Emergency Planning: OSAC These factors combined with lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made it more difficult for persons with disabilities to exercise their rights. assailants encounter any resistance, they escalate the situation through Management Agency (FEMA). Informal economy workers had no formal labor relationship that would make them subject to labor law. Driving outside of urban areas at night is dangerous and not Doctors and hospitals often Guatemala On November 15, in a unanimous decision, the three judges of the High-Risk Tribunal B granted house arrest to former president Otto Perez Molina, indicted in the case stemming from 2016 known as Cooptation of the State. Roosevelt in Zone 11 to go shopping at Walmart with a friend. Narcotics trafficking is widespread, and large portions of the department are under the influence of drug trafficking organizations. nations has at times been the source of protests in the capital. Most of the cases were documented in social media with videos taken by civilians. organized an active community-based tourism program in San Vicente Pacaya to patrol major roadways sporadically and may assist travelers. invasions. is a geologically and climatologically active and dynamic country prone to The national governments prosecution of Jose Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez continued. 1. involve both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Guatemala is a multiparty constitutional republic. Guatemala Travel Advisory, Level 3: Reconsider Travel open sources and (U) embassy reporting. are some aerial medical evacuation (medevac) services in Guatemala. Reconsider travel to Guatemala due tocrime. Basic services, road infrastructure, In September and October, there were work stoppages in Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomas de Castillo ports. The Ministry of Labors Child Worker Protection Unit is responsible for enforcing restrictions on child labor and educating minors, their parents, and employers on the rights of minors. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (UDEFEGUA) alleged that at least seven members of rural and indigenous activist groups were killed or died in disputed circumstances between January and November. The Special Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Judicial Workers and Unionists reported that from January to August, it had received 53 complaints of crimes or offenses against trade unionists and labor activists. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. NGOs claimed admittance procedures for LGBTQI+ prisoners were not implemented, noting particular concern regarding procedures for transgender individuals. The law requires all political parties represented in congress to have a representative on the committee. The second line of effort is pressing for the SAF and the RSF to implement and fully uphold a ceasefire and allow unhindered humanitarian access. was the victim of a robbery which resulted in a gunshot wound to her leg after she guatemala crime and safety report 2021 - healthia.co.uk password. AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov. U.S. citizens are advised not to hail white-car taxis on the street in Guatemala City. Since May prosecutors and judges associated with the Diario Militar case reported increased threats and surveillance. Other factors contributing to the lack of effective enforcement included labor court inefficiencies, employer refusal to permit labor inspectors to enter facilities or provide access to payroll records and other documentation, and inspectors lack of follow-up inspections in the face of such refusals. and road safety abroad. Criminal penalties for forced labor range from eight to 18 years imprisonment and a fine. Right to health. the crater. Violence and Harassment: Members of the press reported receiving pressure, threats, and retribution from public officials and criminal organizations regarding the content of their reporting. The courts had not sentenced approximately 18 percent of juvenile inmates held in detention. Child labor was nonetheless prevalent in the agricultural sector, in dangerous conditions, and generally with parents knowledge and consent. demonstrations are peaceful, they can turn violent. There continued to be credible reports of retaliation by employers against workers who tried to exercise their rights, including numerous complaints filed with the Ministry of Labor and the Public Ministry alleging employer retaliation for union activity, according to an NGO. It is against the law to turn right on red unless otherwise posted, and In August 2020 the PNC arrested Mejia, the director of a local television and radio service, following her live radio and video reporting of a protest at the Joyabaj mayors office that resulted in damage to municipal property. Disaggregated police data that captures crimes targeting persons who identify Public hospitals frequently experience serious activity across the country. medical specialists are U.S. trained and certified. There were approximately 16 indigenous members of congress, of whom four were women. problems. Starting in August 2020 the three governmental entities replaced by the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights had 90 days to transfer their files to existing institutions such as the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Secretariat for Planning and Programming. The ministry noted that the judicial system convicted 1,118 perpetrators of violence against women from January to August, compared with 424 in the same period of 2020. "Mr. Bernardo Caal Xl has been criminalised because he, on behalf of his community, took a case all the way to the Supreme Court to try to halt the Oxec . The law establishes penalties for femicide of 25 to 50 years in prison without the possibility of reducing the sentence; however, femicide remained a significant problem.
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guatemala crime and safety report 2021