VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0091/01 0331819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021819Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6875
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0885
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0265

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000091 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER AND GAYATRI PATEL 
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/PSC DEBORAH ODELL AND DRL/MLGA CHRIS 
SIBILLA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UN PHUM PREL KDEM GT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GUATEMALA'S ASSESSMENT OF UN FIELD 
COVERAGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
REF: STATE 2023 
 
¶1. Summary: As requested in reftel, following is post's 
assessment of the Guatemala office of the UN High 
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR/Guatemala), including a 
description of the office, its successes and challenges in 
promoting human rights, its relationship with the GOG, civil 
society, and political opposition parties, and areas in which 
the USG can initiate or provide additional support.  In 2008, 
OHCHR/Guatemala continued to focus its programs on combating 
insecurity, impunity, and poverty and had some positive 
results, although serious challenges remain.  End Summary. 
 
Description of Guatemala Office 
----------------------------- 
¶2. The OHCHR/Guatemala was established in 2005 under a 
renewable three-year mandate.  It has a staff of 38 and a 
budget of $3.8 million, half of which is used for 
administrative operations including salaries and half for its 
human rights activities.  The office monitored the human 
rights situation in Guatemala, advised the GOG and civil 
society on human rights issues, and provided technical 
assistance, in accordance with its mandate. 
 
¶3. OHCHR/Guatemala fulfilled its mandate while working in an 
environment marked by increasing levels of violence and 
insecurity.  According to Juan Carlos Monge, Deputy 
Representative of OHCHR/Guatemala, Guatemala has one of the 
highest levels of violence among countries not in conflict. 
The office, therefore, focused its work on defending the 
right to life and prioritized programs that combat 
insecurity, impunity, and poverty.  Its specific programs 
centered on: rule of law; security; economic, social, and 
cultural rights; and the rights of indigenous peoples. 
Anders Kompass, Representative of OHCHR/Guatemala, engages 
frequently through the press on the importance of improving 
security and strengthening its weak state institutions should 
be the GOG's priority goals. 
 
Successes 
--------- 
¶4. In 2008, OHCHR/Guatemala worked with the Public Ministry 
(Attorney General's Office) and the National Civil Police 
(PNC) to strengthen their capacity to confront the country's 
security challenges, including a plan to strengthen the 
Public Ministry's Witness Protection Program. 
OHCHR/Guatemala plans to continue to work with the Public 
Ministry in 2009 to implement its recommendations.  The 
office also trained the PNC on human rights and 
implementation of the Law Against Femicide and Other Forms of 
Violence Against Women, and provided technical assistance to 
Congress on how to draft legislation related to security 
issues. 
 
¶5. OHCHR/Guatemala organized a series of public events to 
promote the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights and established partnerships with government 
institutions, NGOs, academic bodies, and private sector 
organizations.  The office targeted the young, urban 
population in its public awareness campaign and disseminated 
over 22,000 copies of the Universal Declaration. 
 
¶6. In conjunction with the Social Studies and Research 
Association (ASIES), a policy think tank, OHCHR/Guatemala 
conducted a study and drafted a report on how to increase the 
indigenous population's access to formal and informal systems 
of justice.  The office presented the report to the Judiciary 
and the Public Ministry and will work with the GOG to 
implement its recommendations.  The office has also received 
funding from the government of Norway to create a public 
interest legal clinic where anyone, especially members of the 
Qinterest legal clinic where anyone, especially members of the 
indigenous population, who has suffered a human rights 
violation can receive free legal advice. 
 
Challenges 
---------- 
¶7. OHCHR/Guatemala faces enormous challenges: an increasing 
level of violence, the growing power and influence of 
organized criminal groups, a high level of impunity, and an 
ineffective justice system, which complicate the 
organization's ability to carry out its mandate.  According 
to Monge, the current economic crisis will undoubtedly affect 
funding from international donors, which could impact the 
office's operational budget and force it to cut back on 
programs. 
 
Relationship with the GOG 
 
------------------------- 
¶8. OHCHR/Guatemala has a constructive, frank, and open 
relationship with the GOG, especially with the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, according to Monge.  In September 2008, the 
GOG renewed OHCHR's mandate in Guatemala for three additional 
years, a positive public indication of the GOG's desire to 
continue working with the organization.  Monge also stated 
that the GOG welcomes the organization's recommendations on 
how to more effectively confront the challenges that it faces. 
 
Relationship with Civil Society 
------------------------------- 
¶9. Civil society has criticized OHCHR/Guatemala for not 
focusing sufficient attention on combating violence against 
human rights defenders and for being overly reserved in its 
public statements and reports.  According to Monge, civil 
society initially misconstrued OHCHR/Guatemala as a new 
MINUGUA (UN Verification Mission in Guatemala) and had 
unrealistic expectations of what the office could achieve 
within its mandate.  Monge believes, however, that civil 
society now views the Guatemala office as an invaluable 
interlocutor between civil society, the GOG, and the 
international community. 
 
Relationship with Political Opposition Parties 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶10. Monge noted that currently OHCHR/Guatemala does not 
appear to have a strong working relationship with political 
opposition parties, and plans to consolidate its relationship 
with Congress in 2009. 
 
Recommendations for USG Support 
------------------------------- 
¶11. Monge emphasized that the social, political and economic 
challenges facing the GOG justify the presence of OHCHR/ 
Guatemala.  He underscored the valuable role of USG political 
and economic support in the organization's success, and 
emphasized that the Ambassador's presence at its events has 
been a fundamental positive influence on the GOG.  According 
to Monge, if the Ambassador speaks, everyone listens and 
takes note. 
 
¶12. Comment: OHCHR/Guatemala is highly visible in Guatemala 
and organizes numerous programs and events to focus attention 
on key human rights issues.  Its decision to focus on 
insecurity, impunity, and poverty is not surprising in the 
context of Guatemala's increasing level of violence and the 
large percentage of the population that lives in poverty or 
extreme poverty.  The organization has had some notable 
success in tackling these issues, although serious challenges 
remain.  USG political and economic support have had a 
positive impact on the effectiveness of its programs. 
McFarland