Lawyers for Lawyers joins the undersigned organisations in expressing deep concern at the start of the trial of Guatemalan lawyer and human rights defender Claudia González, scheduled for 5 May 2026 in Guatemala City. After more than two decades of defending human rights and fighting corruption, her case has become a symbol of politically motivated criminal prosecution in the country.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses her of abuse of authority for actions carried out in her capacity as judicial representative for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), despite the fact that this crime applies only to public officials, a status she has never held.
In addition, there have been serious irregularities in the proceedings since her arrest in August 2023, including restrictions on public access to hearings, limitations on international observation and repeated unjustified delays. The evidentiary hearing, for example, lasted for more than 15 months due to multiple suspensions, clearly affecting due process.
This is not an isolated case. It is part of a pattern of criminalization against human rights defenders, journalists, indigenous authorities and justice workers linked to the fight against corruption in Guatemala. This pattern has forced more than 100 people into unfounded trials, arbitrary detentions or exile.
Before the start of the trial, the undersigned organizations:
• Demand full respect for due process safeguards, including public access to hearings and international observation.
• Urge the judicial authorities to act with independence, impartiality and strict adherence to the law.
• Call on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to refrain from promoting criminal proceedings based on improper interpretations of the law.
• Call on the Guatemalan authorities to end the criminalization of human rights defenders and justice workers.
The undersigned organizations will continue to monitor this process. The trial of Claudia González will be a key test of the State of Guatemala’s commitment to justice.
Signatories
Abogados Sin Fronteras Canadá
Amnistía Internacional
Asociación de Abogados, Abogadas, Jueces y Fiscales de Derechos Humanos de América Latina y el Caribe
Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL)
Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
Impunity Watch
Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IM-Defensoras)
Justice in Motion
Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
Lawyers for Lawyers
Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
Programa ACTuando Juntas Jotay
Protección Internacional Mesoamérica
Voces Guatemaltecas en el Exilio
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
Read the PDF version of this statement in Spanish and English.
