OEA/Ser.L/V/II.118

Doc. 5 rev. 1

29 December 2003

Original: Spanish

JUSTICE AND SOCIAL INCLUSION: THE CHALLENGES OF

DEMOCRACY IN GUATEMALA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

          A.      Scope of this report

          B.      Background to the report

          C.      The in loco visit

          D.      Preparation and approval of the report

CHAPTER I     THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

          A.      Introduction

          B.      Impunity and denial of justice

          C.      The requirements of independence and impartiality

          D.      Access to justice

          E.      Auxiliary institutions in the administration of justice

          F.      Public defenders

          G.      Modernization of justice

          H.      Training of members of the Judicial Agency

          I.       Conclusions and recommendations

CHAPTER II    PUBLIC SECURITY AND SAFETY

          A.      Introduction

          B.      The National Civil Police (PNC)

          C.      The role of the Armed Forces

          D.      Lynchings

          E.      Illegal units and clandestine security forces

          F.      The Civil Self-defense Patrols (PAC) or Volunteer Civil Defense
                   Committees (CVDC)

          G.      Conclusions and recommendations

CHAPTER III  THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND JUSTICE AGENTS

A.       Introduction

          B.       Human rights defenders in Guatemala

                   1.       Background

                   2.       Acts that hinder or difficult the work developed by human rights
                             defenders in Guatemala

                   3.       State Initiatives

          C.       Situation of justice agents

                   1.       Acts that difficult or limit the development of the work
                             carried out by justice agents

                   2.       State Initiatives

          D.       Conclusions and Recommendations

CHAPTER IV   SITUATION OF INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS

A.             Introduction

B.             Discrimination and social exclusion of Indigenous Populations

          C.       Access to justice

                   1.       Impunity and Indigenous populations

                   2.       Reparation to victims of the armed conflict

          D.       Political participation

          E.       Land situation

          F.       Conclusions and recommendations

CHAPTER V    THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

          A.       Introduction

          B.       The status of women under Guatemalan law

        C.       Women’s representation and participation in shaping State policy

          D.       Violence against women

                   1.       Women’s access to the courts in cases involving gender-based violence

          E.       Women’s rights in the labor area

          F.       Disparities in access to essential services

                   1.       Education

                   2.       Access to health care and reproductive health care services

          G.       Conclusions and recommendations

CHAPTER VI   THE STATUS OF CHILDREN

A.       Introduction

          B.       Bringing domestic laws in line with international standards

            C.       Child labor

          D.       Adoptions and registration of births

          E.       The street children

          F.       Children disappeared during the internal armed conflict

          G.       Conclusions and recommendations

CHAPTER VII The Situation of Freedom of Expression

A.            Introduction

          B.       Intimidating acts and threats against social communicators

          C.       Access to state-held information

          D.       The right to exercise the action of habeas data

          E.       Community radios in the Guatemalan context

          F.       Monopolies in the media

          G.       Insult laws

          H.       Indirect means of restriction of freedom of expression

           I.       Conclusions and recommendations

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS OF THE RULE OF LAW IN GUATEMALA