On 9 March 2026, the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala brought together members of the legal community to present its report, “Climate of fear: The legal profession and judicial independence at risk,” addressing the situation of legal professionals in Guatemala.
The International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala was a fact-finding mission conducted by Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), the International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk (OIAD), the Asociación de Abogados, Abogadas, Jueces y Fiscales de Derechos Humanos de América Latina y el Caribe (AJUFIDH), Asociación de Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia (JJpD), and Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE).
The mission was launched in response to growing concerns about the deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala and the increasing threats to judicial independence and legal professionals. It aimed to monitor, document, and assess these developments in light of repeated international warnings and reports of repression and misuse of the justice system.
The event, organised as a side event of the 195th Period of Sessions of the Inter-American Commission, created a space for visibility, dialogue, and accountability, bringing together key actors from Guatemala and the international community.
Building on this exchange, members of the delegation presented the report’s findings, highlighting patterns of persecution against legal professionals—including harassment, criminalisation, arbitrary detention, and forced exile—and underscoring the heightened risks faced by those from historically marginalised groups, particularly women and Indigenous communities. The presentation further examined Guatemala’s current institutional framework, analysing how co-optation operates through key state and non-state actors, as well as weaknesses in appointment, disciplinary, and oversight mechanisms. These structural deficiencies and processes of politicisation were identified as factors that undermine institutional independence and enable the selective application of justice.
Following the report presentation, Guatemalan lawyers shared testimonies reflecting the lived realities behind the report’s findings. Lucía Xiloj, a lawyer representing Indigenous communities and human rights organisations, spoke about the stigmatisation faced by legal professionals, particularly Indigenous women lawyers, and how this affects access to justice for the communities they serve. She noted: “There is stigmatisation simply for seeking justice. It affects not only victims and survivors, but also the lawyers who represent them.”
Ramón Cadena, a Guatemalan lawyer and prominent human rights defender currently facing criminal charges for representing students, shared reflections on his case. He also called on young lawyers and students to maintain their sense of defiance, encouraging them to grow as defenders of human rights and uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The event concluded with closing remarks by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, who emphasised that the report—by providing empirical evidence and reinforcing key recommendations—calls on all actors to take action within their respective capacities. Referring to the title of the report, the Rapporteur also highlighted a message of resilience: there is not only a climate of fear, but also a climate of hope. “The stories of courage and perseverance shared by Guatemalan legal professionals extend beyond the country’s borders and continue to make an impact worldwide”, she noted.
Read the full report in Spanish here (English version will be made available soon).
