Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk and Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España have jointly submitted a mid-term report for the fourth cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Guatemala. The report raises serious concerns about Guatemala’s human rights performance, particularly in relation to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
During its fourth UPR cycle, Guatemala partially accepted 17 recommendations pertaining to safeguarding the rights of human rights defenders and justice operators – including lawyers – ending harassment, criminalization and ensuring full respect for due process in all prosecutions. Additionally, Guatemala received one recommendation regarding the strengthening of the legal education.
The signatory organizations have followed up the compliance of these recommendations – including a fact-finding mission conducted in October 2025 – concluding that Guatemala has not sufficiently implemented these recommendations. Reported cases of intimidation, harassment, prolonged arbitrary detention, and forced exile indicate that lawyers continue to face retaliation for their work, as well as severe restrictions and external pressure in carrying out their professional duties.
The report documents cases of harassment and criminal prosecution of lawyers revealing a structural scheme in which criminal law is used as a tool to intimidate, silence, and suppress critical voices. It also provides examples of lawyers who remain in exile due to the ongoing risk of criminalization and lack of institutional guarantees for their safe return. The submission also highlights persistent concerns regarding the quality of legal education for legal professionals, which remains inadequately addressed by the Guatemalan government.
The report concludes by urging UN Member States to follow-up on their recommendations and encourages the government of Guatemala to implement recommendations accepted during the previous UPR and adhere to international legal standards on the independence of the legal profession.
Read the full submission here.
