On March 26, 2026, the Constitutional Court of Guatemala confirmed the validity of Governmental Agreement 133/2024, which requires disclosure of beneficial ownership for public contracting processes. The decision, made public in mid-April, marks an important milestone for the advancement of transparency and anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala. In its ruling, the Court expressly acknowledged an amicus submission filed in September 2025 by the New York City Bar Association, with the support of the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice. The brief, submitted with a group of five civil society organizations – Acción Ciudadana, Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos,... read more
Post tagged in "Guatemala"
Guatemalan Constitutional Court Aligns with Vance Center’s Amicus Brief in Decision Upholding Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts
Posted on May 7, 2026
Vance Center Participates in Meetings with Guatemala’s President and Officials to Present Report on Use of Criminal Law Against Indigenous Communities
Posted on March 24, 2026Vance Center Institutional Integrity Program Advisor Cuitláhuac Castillo (fourth from right) and civil society representatives after meeting with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo to present the findings of the report on criminalization of Indigenous communities in Guatemala City, March 9, 2026. Photo credit: Juan Castro On March 9 and 10, the Vance Center’s Institutional Integrity Program attorneys joined the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), the Institute for Comparative Studies in Criminal and Social Sciences (INECIP), and the Indigenous Peoples Law Firm, a Guatemalan firm, for a series of events to launch a new report, “Evictions and Criminalization of Indigenous Peoples... read more
Vance Center Participates in IACHR’s 195th Sessions and Side Events in Guatemala
Posted on March 23, 2026Vance Center Associate Executive Director Jaime Chávez Alor with representatives of judges’ associations and other civil society representatives at the 195th Period of Sessions of the IACHR in Guatemala City, March 9, 2026. Photo credit: Asociación Mexicana de Juzgadoras IACHR Hearings Civil Society Dialogue On March 9, the Commission held a 90-minute session to hear from a wide range of civil society organizations across the region on diverse thematic concerns. This was the first time the IACHR has hosted an open dialogue spanning multiple countries, issues, and themes, and offered an opportunity for a diverse range of speakers to present... read more
Vance Center Hosts Two Sessions at Central America Donors Forum
Posted on October 22, 2025Jaime Chávez Alor and Ignacio Obando lead the discussion during the session “Resilience through Legal Representation: Pro Bono in Times of Crisis” on October 6. Photo credit: Vance Center. The Vance Center and network partners organized two sessions during the 15th Central America Donors Forum, held on October 6-7, 2025, in Guatemala City. This year’s forum, held under the theme, Resist, Bridge & Rebuild in Times of Change, brought together more than 800 people from across 450 organizations and 30 countries. Over two days, panels and workshops covered urgent topics including solutions to protect democracy and the rule of law,... read more
Vance Center Hosts “Fundamental Dilemmas” Dialogue Addressing Guatemala’s Political and Economic Challenges
Posted on September 19, 2025L-R: Speakers Dulce Veras, Juan Pappier, Yara Tobar, Jaime Chávez Alor, Aloysia Huynh Sonnet, and moderator Daniel Haering. Photo credit: Vance Center On September 16, 2025, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice hosted a lively panel discussion, “Fundamental Dilemmas: Guatemala’s Democratic Challenge 2026 as a Basis for National Transformation.” The conversation brought together civil society leaders, business representatives, and international experts to examine Guatemala’s institutional landscape ahead of scheduled appointments to six critical positions, including in the Attorney General’s Office, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. The event was part of “Fundamental Dilemmas,” a multisectoral initiative... read more
El Vance Center se une a comunicado conjunto que urge la revisión de las medidas de José Rubén Zamora bajo estándares internacionales
Posted on February 12, 202612 de febrero de 2026 – Las organizaciones abajo firmantes expresamos nuestra preocupación por la detención prolongada e injustificada del periodista José Rubén Zamora y reiteramos nuestro llamamiento para que los procedimientos judiciales en su caso se ajusten a los estándares y garantías internacionales. Hoy, llamamos al Juzgado Segundo Pluripersonal de Primera Instancia Penal, a cargo del juez Máximo Morales González, a que, en la audiencia del 12 de febrero de 2026 de revisión de medidas en el proceso penal por uso de documentos falsificados, adopte una decisión conforme a las garantías del debido proceso, estándares internacionales obligatorios para Guatemala... read more