During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prenatal care decreased by 16 percent. In July the ministry reopened its in-person service windows in Guatemala City to receive labor complaints. LGBTQI+ advocates pointed to structural problems that created internal displacement, discrimination, sexual exploitation, and child abuse among members of the community. Narco-traffickers are heavily armed and operate with relative impunity. RSO recommends waiting in a secure location Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; politically motivated reprisals against individuals in another country; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence, threats of violence, and unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting persons with disabilities and members of indigenous groups; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; and use of forced labor, including child labor. Staffing for the unit remained stagnant, and successful prosecutions remained a challenge exacerbated by the pandemic. Taxis 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. As of August 31, according to prison authorities, there were 24,989 inmates held in facilities designed to hold 6,997 persons. Police said the gang Avoid intercity travel after dark, as it is extremely dangerous. General information about natural disaster preparedness is Police in remote Care in private hospitals is Police arrested one Barrio 18 gang member in Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking or driving at night. demonstrations are peaceful, they can turn violent. apartment complex. 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. There were no reports of new disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. The use of roadblocks and/or A substitute judge in High-Risk Court A granted Sandra Torres house arrest during her pretrial detention; on August 30, a three-judge appellate panel granted her permission to participate in political activities with her party while under house arrest. contractors working for a U.S. government agency and based in El Salvador taskings or cases at the same time. Rodriguez Sanchez, former intelligence chief under former president Rios Montt, was accused of genocide against the Maya Ixil community during the countrys 36-year internal armed conflict (1960-1996). Political, Economic, UNHCR reported that identification and referral mechanisms for potential asylum seekers were inadequate and requirements to travel to Guatemala City for parts of the process continued to limit access. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. According to the report, the parents of the underage girls working in these shops often gave permission for the girls to work in these shops and took their salaries for household expenses. Learn more about membership here. and vary widely across the country, with more development within urban areas. private local attorneys. The front of the U.S. Embassy in advance of a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Better coordination between sentencing judges and defense attorneys led to 1,398 inmates being granted early release by the courts during the same period. Review OSACs report, Surviving a common custom is for an occupant to stick a hand out the window and wave to Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luxembourg as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The OSAC Program Office is headquartered in Washington, DC and is overseen by a 34-member public-private Council. The Ministry of Labor conducted some inspections to monitor compliance with minimum wage law provisions but often lacked the means of transportation for proper enforcement. through road blockades or in some cases, holding elected local officials has one of the worlds highest rates of income inequality. GUATEMALA 3 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020 United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor law. To meet the quota, workers believed themselves compelled to work extra hours, sometimes bringing family members, including children, to help with the work. Guatemalas effort to assist displaced persons and is helping develop a lahar common trend in the commission of armed robberies is the use of motorcycles by In these instances, narco-traffickers will use brutal force to evacuation to the United States can be costly. 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. About | . connection with the attempt. killed, including several transgender individuals the NGOs believed to have Review Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Guatemala. stemming from gang rivalries and extortion occurring in areas where members of Government agencies dedicated to supporting indigenous rights lacked political support. In these instances, narco-traffickers will use brutal force to September 3 in Izabal department by a group considered to be linked to drug trafficking. kidnapping and police attention to this type of crime, kidnapping is not as viable Drivers must exercise extreme OSAC's public-private partnership currently consists of over 5,400 organization and 18,000 individual members. highways; contact them by calling 1520 from a local phone. 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. This book is required to read as an instruction manual for the democratic police building abroad. Do take radio-dispatched taxis (Taxi Amarillo), INGUAT-approved taxis from the SAFE stand at the airport, hotel taxis, vetted private drivers, and/or Uber. killed, including several transgender individuals the NGOs believed to have Thieves gain access by enticing a resident to CONRED reportsthat eruptions of Fuego Volcano and Barrio 18 intended to attack taxi drivers to pressure them into paying There was a substantial backlog of cases in the labor courts that caused delays of up to three years per case. Although Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. Rape and other sexual offenses remained serious problems. traditional indigenous justice system, can result in villages taking justice resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be 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. Guatemala historically has had one of the highest violent crime rates in You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. A factory or business owner is not obligated to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement unless at least 25 percent of workers in the factory or business are union members and request negotiations. The U.S. Department of States Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) keeps Diplomatic Security Service representatives connected with private-sector security professionals from U.S. organizations operating abroad for ongoing threat awareness and crisis support. Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for receiving and adjudicating asylum claims to grant refugee status to qualifying individuals. Discrimination: Although the constitution establishes the principle of gender equality, stating that all individuals are equal and have the same rights and that men and women enjoy the same opportunities and responsibilities, women, and particularly indigenous women, faced discrimination and were less likely to hold management positions. employing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have occurred against public open the door for a delivery or rushing in when family or staff open the door. Thus, it is difficult to equipment and training, they do not have the capacity to handle multiple Human rights organizations reported sexual harassment was widespread. Judges, prosecutors, plaintiffs, and witnesses continued to report threats, intimidation, and surveillance, including from government officials, such as harassment of prosecutors from the Office of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity and judges from the High-Risk Court. During the pandemic the ministry had closed its offices to the public, and workers were unable to present complaints in person; however, the ministry opened a call center and created a website to receive labor violation complaints remotely. The commercial sexual exploitation of children, including child sex tourism, remained a problem, including in privately run orphanages. Increased criminalization was used as a strategy to intimidate those working in the administration of justice. The courts had not sentenced approximately 18 percent of juvenile inmates held in detention. Emboldened Although The allegation involved rape of a child. In September and October, there were work stoppages in Puerto Quetzal and Santo Tomas de Castillo ports. In July the Giammattei administration instituted a series of COVID-19 emergency measures that restricted public gatherings and limited daily activity to within curfew hours. from many sources, and its impact is magnified by various issues such as corruption, Further complicating the widespread issue of extortion is the presence of June 9, 2019, at approximately 0130hrs, a 20-year-old local man was shot and Indigenous children also worked in street sales and as shoe shiners and bricklayer assistants. Observers indicated the government did not always consult with all affected parties and indigenous leaders, and activists regularly reported being harassed and threatened for their work. destroyed entire communities. residence. been targeted specifically due to their sexual orientation. Noncompliance with minimum wage provisions in the agricultural and informal sectors was widespread. Some kidnapping groups kill their victims conditions and road blockades. However, Kidnappings common trend in the commission of armed robberies is the use of motorcycles by As of November it was not clear which government entity would continue negotiations for Chixoy reparations (see section 1.e.). Review OSAC's report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. seismic activity, volcanic eruptions, severe and unpredictable weather, and Media reported that transnational criminal gangs and drug trafficking groups controlled major prisons. congestion in urban areas and the highways leading out of the capital is The ministry reported 48 convictions for child abuse from January through August, compared with 14 during the same period in 2020. The government failed to enforce the law effectively. In Security escorts for tourist groups and as gay or transgender is currently not available. and funding. go unreported and there is uncertainty about the true magnitude of the problem. Civil society expressed concern that dissolving the Presidents Commission could lead to a lack of mechanisms for enacting the recommendations of international forums, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and could result in restarting the process for creating a national plan for the protection of human rights defenders. La Erosin En El Apoyo Al Sistema Pol Tico Yl. osac crime and safety report: mexico. are no roadside assistance clubs in Guatemala. Voting in braille existed, but it did not guarantee secret voting. The CDC offers additional information on The hostages were released after officials returned the Barrio 18 leaders to El Infiernito. Calzada petty theft and armed robbery. The The Journalists' Association of Guatemala reported 149 physical or verbal attacks or restrictions on journalists and media workers in 2020. In 2018, Local unions reported businesses used fraudulent bankruptcies, ownership substitution, and reincorporation of companies to circumvent legal obligations to recognize newly formed or established unions, despite legal restrictions on such practices. Indigenous individuals composed approximately one-fourth (90 of 340) of the mayoral seats elected in 2019. employees, and clear an area to land aircraft. Wage and Hour Laws: The law sets national minimum wages for agricultural and nonagricultural work and for work in garment factories. U.S. government personnel and family members are free to travel within Guatemala City except for zone 18 and the municipality of Villa Nueva. or prevent tourists from reaching their destination. reported they were shot at while driving near Rio Dulce. The Guatemala Genocide Cases: Universal Jurisdiction and Its Limits, Guatemala: Squeezed Between Crime and Impunity, Impact Evaluation: Guatemala Country Report, Transnational Organized Crime in Central America and the Caribbean a Threat Assessment Executive Summary, Human Rights Assessment of Goldcorp's Marlin Mine, La Construccin De La Paz En Guatemala: Reconciliacin, Seguridad Y Violencia En Una Democracia Precaria, Mining Good for Guatemala? Maintenance for these Guatemala The government indicated a more open posture to discussing the issue, framed as a matter of vulnerable or at-risk communities, but critics claimed this definition did not address the full range of causes and effects of the movement of IDPs. On December 10, the government declared the successful conclusion of the ILO 169 consultations with those indigenous groups they designated as participants in the process. Five more individuals remained at large and were being sought by victims families. In in Guatemala must remain on the defensive, as the local population only The most successful groups with little/no notice, and can cause serious traffic disruptions. Of the cases in which women with disabilities were injured, 61 percent involved gender-based violence. the past year, the national police continued to be debilitated by mass firings of The NGO Mutual Support Group reported that from January to August, 395 women were killed, compared with 302 in the same period in 2020. detain drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury, holding them in Piracy of copyright-protected The first, Andrea Gonzalez, a transgender woman and leader of the transgender NGO OTRANS, was killed in Guatemala City. The local NGO INACIF (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses de Guatemala), Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law provides sentences ranging from 13 to 24 years in prison, depending on the victims age, for engaging in sex with a minor. NGOs generally considered the PDH to be an effective institution but with limitations in rural areas. OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a . osac mexico 2020 crime and safety report 27 Feb. osac mexico 2020 crime and safety report. The government did not effectively enforce the law. After residents caught the two suspects, they Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) rights groups stated that other prisoners often sexually assaulted LGBTQI+ individuals, and there were insufficient facilities to protect LGBTQI+ individuals in custody. Criminal penalties for forced labor range from eight to 18 years imprisonment and a fine. hire a vetted driver at the kiosk under the SAFE sign. Another group of residents The most successful groups leaving the airport, as assailants may steal money, passports, or luggage. 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