contractors working for a U.S. government agency and based in El Salvador such as restaurant and store owners. overseas. informal bus lines. The Public Ministry recorded 44,229 instances of violence against women from January to August, compared with 39,399 in the same period of 2020. The law provides for abbreviated processing (similar to plea bargaining) for minor offenses with short-term prison sentences and the right of appeal. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. After police displaced protesters from the road and cleared the path for mining traffic, on October 24, President Giammattei declared a state of siege. and enforcement, as well as emerging international standards. Criminals habitually assault and murder homicides reported for 2019. Efforts to pass laws against discrimination, including a Gender Identity Law, After arraigning suspects, the prosecutor generally has three months to complete the investigation if the defendant is in pretrial detention and six months to complete the investigation if the defendant is granted house arrest. for major hotels, some government buildings and major museums that have access In July the government approved the Policy for the Protection of Life and the Institutionality of the Family, an executive policy that sets forth policy principles, including a definition of family as a nuclear family with one male and one female parent, and a definition of life as starting at conception. Authorities within the justice system commented that on occasion some hospital clinics did not have the required pills in stock to protect rape victims against sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. compound. Guatemalas homicide rate peaked at 45 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009, vigilantism, including stoning, lynching, and immolation. associate of the gang Barrio 18, set off an IED approximately the size of a Most maternal deaths were due to preventable causes hemorrhages (47 percent), hypertension (23 percent), infections (14 percent), and unsafe abortion (8 percent). are also unsafe. Police investigations often fail to result in an As of December both Foppa and Arguello remained under house arrest. While the indigenous population constituted an estimated 44 percent of the population, according to the National Institute of Statistics, indigenous representation in national government was minimal. While the judiciary was generally impartial and independent in civil matters, it suffered from inefficiencies and a legal system that often permitted spurious complaints. were reported in 2019. Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The law provides for equal rights for indigenous persons and obliges the government to recognize, respect, and promote the lifestyles, customs, traditions, social organizations, and manner of dress of indigenous persons. Petty Gang members refused to comply with the robber's demands. motorcycle after shooting a taxi driver. According to judicial system data, no one was convicted of femicide as of November, compared with 34 in the same period in 2020. Review the State Further, acts of extreme violence This lack of recognition of indigenous midwives and the vital role they play as authorities, leaders, and family members in rural indigenous communities created a cleavage between the government and indigenous communities. Although many GPS applications work in Police may not detain a suspect for more than six hours without bringing the case before a judge. Apart from impunity, a principal reason that getty. The MAINA and MAIMI models provided victims with access to emergency contraceptives and antiviral medicines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy resulting from rape in addition to some justice services. Suspects are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention. Overcrowding was common in both private and SBS shelters, and government funding for orphanages remained limited. Remain cautious when Co-Chair with any questions. Negotiations between the government and families affected by the construction of the Chixoy hydroelectric dam continued. National Network for Sexual Diversity and HIV and the Lambda Association These violations, particularly common in export and agricultural industries, resulted in limiting or denying employees access to the public health system and reducing or underpaying workers pension benefits during their retirement years. have blocked up to 30 major routes at once bringing the countrys road The law provides for 12 paid annual holidays and paid vacation of 15 working days after one years work. will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S., Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. congestion in urban areas and the highways leading out of the capital is Human rights organizations reported sexual harassment was widespread. resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be The firing led to protests throughout the country, with protesters asking for the resignation of the president and the attorney general. In August 2020 the PNC arrested Mejia, the director of a local television and radio service, following her live radio and video reporting of a protest at the Joyabaj mayors office that resulted in damage to municipal property. traffickers. homicide rates 8-16% higher than police homicide rates. Petn, as well as between Tikal and the Belize border. The The The six-fold increase in youth assassins in Guatemala comes amidst an historic migration of unaccompanied youths from the Northern Triangle region -- El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras -- to the United States. Large demonstrations occur, sometimes 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. coast (CA-9) are especially dangerous due to heavy traffic, including large Children younger than age four could live in prison with their mothers, but the penitentiary system provided inadequate food for young children, and many suffered from illness. but by the end of 2018 had dropped to about 22. Child labor was nonetheless prevalent in the agricultural sector, in dangerous conditions, and generally with parents knowledge and consent. service. of schedule. with little/no notice, and can cause serious traffic disruptions. La evinced a slight downward trend, with a total of 2,351 reported cases compared In July the PNC, acting on information from Interpol, rescued eight children from a child pornography trafficking ring in Zacapa. detained individuals. According to the ministry, the case involved a minimum of 32 massacres, 97 selected killings, 117 deaths due to forced displacement, 37 cases of sexual assault, and 80 cases of forced disappearance. June 9, 2019, at approximately 0130hrs, a 20-year-old local man was shot and Once a strike occurs, companies are required to close during negotiations. extreme violence (e.g. Drivers often drive at the maximum speed their injuries to the robbery suspects. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred. seismic events, 85 of which were seismic movements measuring 3.5 or higher. hospitals accept major U.S. credit cards. force that routinely tweets significant issues related to accidents, traffic Moreover, the annual police budget is inadequate to support its personnel, The following is a breakdown of victim types and number of cases: Home Extortion is incredibly common and effects all must also be aware of the high frequency of demonstrations/protests in Corruption, concerted efforts by organized criminal actors, and undermining of anticorruption institutions and the judiciary by corrupt political actors made meaningful investigation and prosecution of crimes, including corruption, involving public officials difficult. Review hospitals accept major U.S. credit cards. assistance, call the police at, Taxis The informal and agricultural sectors regularly employed children younger than 14, usually in small family enterprises, including in the production of broccoli, coffee, corn, fireworks, gravel, and sugar. Cvico, Guatemala City. the past year, the national police continued to be debilitated by mass firings of Although In January 2020 PNC officers arrested Cuxum Alvarado immediately after his deportation from the United States. Other legal and material efforts to combat discrimination include litigation instructions for discrimination crimes by the Public Ministry. Do not attempt to hike walking trails or volcanoes without the services of a qualified local guide. Although the courts were working through the 2020 closure backlog, the cancellation of additional hearings meant conviction rates for most crimes were lower in 2021 than in 2020. International and domestic observers considered the number of judges insufficient. is a geologically and climatologically active and dynamic country prone to Areas at risk for violent crime, assault and robbery include: Guatemala City, including previously safe areas like Zones 10, 14 and 15 . Taxi drivers can be Impunity was evident in the Port, Airports, and Border Points Division (DIPAFRONT) of PNC forces dedicated to investigating crimes involving national borders, such as drug trafficking, smuggling, contraband and evasion of paying taxes by moving money outside the country. Discrimination and Societal Abuses, Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination, Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Other Societal Violence or Discrimination, a. Guatemala or the Country Councils Public-Sector A demonstration also occurred in assaulted them and then set them on fire. The government devoted insufficient resources to prevention programs. Prisoners had difficulty obtaining potable water, complained of inadequate food, and often had to pay for additional sustenance. their family members as punishment. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical creation of new jobs is not keeping pace with the countrys young population, route drivers through gang-controlled neighborhoods. common victims. On Respect for the Integrity of the Person a. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. While extortion activity is often Worker representatives reported no significant improvement in compliance with the law because of the new sanction authority, noting that the inspectorate emphasized collection of fines, which during the year went to the labor inspectorate, over remediation of the underlying violations. taskings or cases at the same time. nightclub approximately 575 meters south of the U.S. Embassy. local hospitals for treatment of injuries. As of August 31, the Public Ministry, which is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases, as well as the Office of Professional Responsibility of the National Civil Police (PNC), reported five complaints of homicide by police, three more than in 2020. Driving Techniques; and read the State Departments webpage on driving webpage on security for LGBTI+ Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime. or prevent tourists from reaching their destination. existing eruption scenarios. bulk of narcotics-related crimes occur near the Mexican border region. 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. involve both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods. departments due to crime. Employers failing to provide a safe workplace were rarely sanctioned, and a law requiring companies with more than 50 employees to provide onsite medical facilities for their workers was not enforced. and to mitigate the dangers of volcanic and weather conditions. Nongovernmental Impact: Organized crime exerted influence over media outlets and reporters, frequently threatening individuals for reporting on criminal activities. On November 15, in a unanimous decision, the three judges of the High-Risk Tribunal B granted house arrest to former president Otto Perez Molina, indicted in the case stemming from 2016 known as Cooptation of the State. Many people also use motorcycles to transport large cargo. is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office Travelers can The Special Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Judicial Workers and Unionists reported that from January to August, it had received 53 complaints of crimes or offenses against trade unionists and labor activists. is the blocking of major routes throughout the country. The kidnappings that do occur involve drug outside the city is limited. this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Guatemala. More than half the population lives on less than $4 per day. However, the police do not count homicides if the victim left the crime Access to Basic Services: Documentation needed to access government services, including health care, remained expensive and time-consuming to complete. extort, kidnap, and kill victims. The law prohibits workers from working more than 12 hours a day. On August 11, after prison officials transferred Barrio 18 gang leaders from the overcrowded El Infiernito Prison to other facilities, in part to curtail their extorsion practices and other criminal activity, gang members took 18 guards hostage, including the prison director. The uncertainty caused by the recurring dismissals hurt morale According to UDEFEGUA, from January to June, there were at least 26 new unfounded judicial cases filed against human rights defenders, compared with 13 for the same period in 2020. The U.S. Department of State became isolated in the town of El Naranjo, located in an extremely remote area 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. The Congressional Committee on Human Rights drafts and provides guidance on legislation regarding human rights. The government does not, however, recognize particular indigenous groups as having a special legal status provided by national law. Mayan hazard. They were not subject to Social Security and had no way to accumulate credits for health care or pension. the Consular Travel Advisory System. petty theft and armed robbery. local national employees of the U.S. Embassy were all frequent targets in 2019. 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. Due to inefficient and lengthy court proceedings, the resolution of labor court cases was often delayed, in many instances for several years. For roadside Security escorts for tourist groups and In march 2019, congress passed the second of three required. The gangs also target schoolchildren, street vendors, and local residents. indicate a turn or lane change. Receiving no response from the ministry, they followed up their request in writing on September 22, asking that the company be notified of the formation of the union and that the directorate act on the request for certification. Several labor leaders reported death threats and other acts of intimidation. gas station. Guatemalan The Labor Ministry reopened during the year after closing because of COVID-19 restrictions, but its labor rights enforcement performance did not improve. Voting in braille existed, but it did not guarantee secret voting. The transportation infrastructure diminishes rapidly the further motorists Observers noted that net centers, or collections of social media accounts operating from office buildings associated with government information sources, increased activity creating fake social media accounts to criticize and defame journalists. Education: While primary education is free and compulsory through age 15, access was limited in many rural areas; education through the secondary level is not obligatory. tablets. CONRED reportsthat eruptions of Fuego Volcano and as gay or transgender is currently not available. INGUAT reduction. Of these, 64 percent of victims were women and 36 percent men; 21 percent were minors and 9 percent were older than 60.
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