role in supporting the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, both politically and financially — €11 million so far had been allocated from the European Union budget.
- While fully aware of the need to extend the Commission’s mandate until September 2015, he said the Union expected that to be the final period. Still, he expressed concern aboutcontinuing violence and cases of impunity. He underlined the need to provide Guatemala with sufficient resources to build State capacity to continue to perform the tasks it had undertaken over the past years.
- The representative of Costa Rica, speaking in his capacity as Pro Tempore President of the Central American Integration System, said he supported L.60 and expressed solidarity with Guatemala’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fight impunity. He acknowledged the work of the International Commission, whose contribution transcended borders and impacted all of Central America. The success it had already achieved, as well as its potential impact on the fight against transnational organized crime, would be critical for the future of Guatemala and the whole region.
- He said the Commission’s work had been crucial in investigating and prosecuting several criminal cases, and, therefore, in implementing justice. However, an even more important contribution had been its development of critical judiciary and institutional reforms and the strengthening of law enforcement institutions, as well as of the Attorney General’s Office and the national courts. He highly welcomed the recommendation to extend its mandate and he urged the international community to continue supporting the country and the Commission.
- Similarly, the representative of Argentina reiterated the country’s support for the Commission for its substantive, transformative and “emancipatory” work. When a Government and an entire society decided to end impunity it was opting to uphold fundamental human rights. A country from “our region” had set an example to reject all forms of violence and corruption, and to uphold justice and due process and combat impunity. The task carried out by the Commission, including in the area of prosecuting organized criminal groups, was a “course that needs to be repeated” by others.
- Argentina, from its own history, was aware of the importance of ending impunity and upholding rights, she said. Coming to terms with the truth of the past was useful in mending “the pain of the victims when they have to cope with the denial of their rights by corrupt and cruel Powers”. Argentina would not only continue cooperating by providing support to Guatemala through backing an extension of the Commission’s mandate, but also with an expression of solidarity. That was an “ethical commitment based on conviction”, she said, adding that democracy was only possible when human rights were upheld.
- The representative of Germany said he believed that the Commission was a vital mechanism to deal with corruption and impunity, both of which had been devastating to Guatemala. In the past, an overwhelming majority of denunciations had gone unimplemented, but the Commission and Government had changed that drastically. The Attorney General and representatives of civil society also had played a significant role in helping institutions with their legislative work and, in particular, with professionalizing the police force and judicial system. Combating impunity in all sectors remained challenging for Guatemala, and for that reason, he supported an extension of Commission’s mandate.
- The representative of the United States, similarly expressing support for extending the mandate, welcomed the progress made to investigate and prosecute criminals and end impunity. He also noted steps taken to strengthen domestic security and justice institutions and encouraged enhanced focus in the area of providing security to judges, prosecutors and witnesses. In an effort to sustain those processes after the conclusion of the Commission’s mandate, the development of benchmarks would provide measurable targets and enhance the joint work of the Government of Guatemala and Commission towards a smooth transition.
