NEWS

Ratification of Rome Statute by Guatemalan Congress

The ratification of the Rome Statute by the Guatemalan Congress on January 26 confers jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court for judging and punishing Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity. The Judicial Case for the Ixil Genocide, committed in the 80’s during the Guatemalan Armed Conflict, recently showed progress with the indictment of Retired General Rios Montt.

The ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) represents an enormous progress against impunity and in favour of transitional justice in Guatemala. Firstly, the Statute’s legal definition of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes confirms their binding character for Guatemala, contributing to the legal interpretation of these crimes in the existing domestic penal code, as well as their application by domestic courts. Secondly, ICC’s subsidiary jurisdiction highlights state-parties’ legal obligations against impunity. Therefore, ratifying the ICC’s jurisdiction constitutes an effective non-recurrence measure of transitional justice (see IW Reports on Guatemala, 2008 and 2011)

IW also wants to draw attention to the recent progress observed in the Ixil Genocide Case, in particular the indictment of Retired General Ríos Montt. IW very much appreciates the efforts made by the Public Prosecution Office, the Judiciary and the Civil Society Organisations working on the case. IW urges them to continue to give the necessary support to strive for the Genocide victims’ right to Truth, Justice and Reparations, as well as making efforts on behalf of all victims of human rights abuses committed during the Internal Armed Conflict.