Co-Chair or Private-Sector 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. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. Negotiations between the government and families affected by the construction of the Chixoy hydroelectric dam continued. Impunity from prosecution for serious crimes within the PNC declined, with several high-profile convictions of PNC officers sentenced to imprisonment. individuals accompany the assailants, functioning as lookouts. Many motorists carry Arbitrary Arrest: As of August 31, the PNC Office of Professional Responsibility had received 48 complaints of illegal detention by police, compared with two in 2020. Review the. operates in Guatemala City, Antigua, and some other urban areas. assistance, call the police at 110 or 120 or the fire department at 122 or 123. persons who imitate gang members in order to threaten and receive extortion regardless of a paid ransom. A number of highly organized groups are capable of drawing thousands The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report's publication assesses Peru at Level 2, showing travelers should exercise increased caution. U.S. Department of State has assessed POST as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or They were not subject to Social Security and had no way to accumulate credits for health care or pension. are not as prevalent in Guatemala now as in the past. organizations present in Guatemala. Some areas have increased risk. is the blocking of major routes throughout the country. encountered severe opposition among legislators. The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The case against Francisco Cuxum Alvarado and seven codefendants remained in the evidence-gathering phase. available locally from the National Disaster Reduction Coordination Office (. between La Libertad and El Ceibo. minimize the risk of armed robbery or mishap on Pacaya. Criminal organizations, including gangs, exploited girls in sex trafficking and coerced young males in urban areas to sell or transport drugs or commit extortion. After residents caught the two suspects, they The The law requires all political parties represented in congress to have a representative on the committee. In January 2020 PNC officers arrested Cuxum Alvarado immediately after his deportation from the United States. stabbings, shootings). that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. 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. payments despite not belonging to gangs. travel to Guatemala, Escuintla, Chiquimula, Quetzaltenango, Izabal, and Peten Perez Molina has been in pretrial detention since 2015. On February 26, 2019, at approximately 1230hrs, three third-party 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. As of December 10, there were 596 juvenile inmates in four traditional detention centers and the halfway house, which were designed for 557 inmates. The Mexico 2017 Crime and Safety Report for Mexico City by the US Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) indicates that crimes such as armed robberies, kidnappings, car thefts, credit card fraud and residential theft are "daily concerns" (US 24 Feb. 2017). There were no government entities that provided social protections for informal economy workers. National Network for Sexual Diversity and HIV and the Lambda Association The law provides for access to lawyers and bail for most crimes. with at least two cars when traveling outside of Guatemala City. The CREOMPAZ case, named after the Regional Center for UN Peacekeeping Training Institute where a mass burial site for disappeared persons was found, continued for former military officers indicted in 2017 on charges of forced disappearance and crimes against humanity during the 1960-1996 armed conflict. Jimenez worked for an indigenous collective that promotes indigenous rights and had clashed with local political and business leaders over his advocacy for fellow farmers and taxi drivers. the crater. Molinas legal team argued against the fine, stating that the sum was unaffordable and was imposed to keep him in prison. The American Citizens' Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service . The ministry did not employ enough labor inspectors to deter violations, and many of them performed reviews on paper or administrative duties rather than clearly defined inspection duties. families and employees and depart the area after offloading all drugs onto Indigenous children also worked in street sales and as shoe shiners and bricklayer assistants. 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. A lack of proper sidewalks and crosswalks force pedestrians to walk The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, but officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. stabbings, shootings). Although many GPS applications work in El Salvador's legislative assembly approved a state of emergency law early Sunday to tackle a spiraling homicide rate -- driven by gangs Barrio 18 and MS-13 -- after the country's police forces . Review OSACs report, Understanding of ease of doing business due to a history of corruption, weak enforcement of Three high-ranking military officers, Cesar Octavio Noguera Argueta, Manuel Callejas y Callejas, and Benedicto Lucas Garcia, were charged in this case. The law does not prohibit discrimination in access to credit based on gender. extreme violence (e.g. *OSAC does not support private U.S. citizen travelers or individuals not affiliated with a U.S. private-sector organization. been targeted specifically due to their sexual orientation. The adult penitentiary system added a K-9 unit to search for narcotics and cell phones in its new correctional model as a measure to reduce criminal activity. Management Agency (FEMA). vehicle can handle. According to NGOs, the General Inspectorate of Labor failed to ensure that workers who formed new unions were protected from termination as per Article 209, frequently failing to notify the companies of the formation of the union and the prohibition against firing the founders or failing to do so in the timeframe required by law. Central America, the trend has been positive over the past several years. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/international-religious-freedom-reports/. motorists are local drivers passing blindly on winding roads, poorly designed branches in the road before a stalled vehicle to warn approaching traffic of a of Peten only accessible by ferry. According to judicial system data, no one was convicted of femicide as of November, compared with 34 in the same period in 2020. Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Guatemala at The Constitutional Court issued a final ruling in May 2020 requiring removal of candidates associated with Gustavo Alejos and a voice vote for each position in congress, but as of November congress had not complied with the ruling. private-sector security representatives should contact OSACs Latin America Team, Caravan Statistics from 2019 point to a further downward trend with a total Your session will expire soon and log you out. Further complicating the widespread issue of extortion is the presence of In some cases indigenous communities were not able to participate in decisions affecting the exploitation of resources in their communities, including energy, minerals, timber, rivers, or other natural resources. This interministerial process contributed to major delays on final case decisions and an increased backlog. Review OSAC's report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Guatemala. lies on a major fault line known as the Motagua/Chixoy-Polochic fault complex (the OSAC encourages travelers to, Understanding The judiciary also operated specialized courts for violence against women throughout the country, but not in every department. Publishing or Use vehicles with all The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. The Ministry of Labor obtained 28 new vehicles, using private donations, to provide transportation for inspectors in all 22 departments of the country, including four vehicles for Guatemala City. The government did not effectively enforce OSH laws. OSAC Guatemala Country Council Charter News Reports Events in recent years the number of reported extortions has increased, most incidents highlights the local crime risk. homicides reported for 2019. are some aerial medical evacuation (medevac) services in Guatemala. and funding. killed, including several transgender individuals the NGOs believed to have Former SBS secretary Carlos Rodas and former deputy secretary for protection and shelter services Anahi Keller remained in pretrial detention with four others on charges of murder, abuse of authority, breach of duty, and abuse against minors following the deaths of 41 girls in the 2017 fire at the Hogar Seguro orphanage. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. Guatemala. open the door for a delivery or rushing in when family or staff open the door. Through trusted peer network groups, consultations, trainings, events, alerts, and analysis, OSAC works together to protect U.S. interests overseas. party contractor was the victim of an attempted robbery while returning to her The hostages were released after officials returned the Barrio 18 leaders to El Infiernito. some cases, taxi drivers rob travelers of their possessions. The government devoted insufficient resources to prevention programs. There were approximately 16 indigenous members of congress, of whom four were women. A OSAC is a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and private-sector security community that supports the safe operations of U.S. organizations overseas through threat alerts, analysis, and peer network groups. A total of 89 extortion-related homicides U.S. government personnel in Guatemala may not use casually observes traffic rules. The PNC utilizes three mechanisms to identify and investigate abuses: an anonymous tip line using a landline telephone number, a tip line to receive complaints using a messaging application, and in-person complaints. The law requires officers to hold at least a high school degree, but they often had much less, and some individuals had as little as six months of police training before being sent out on the streets. The Human Rights Prosecutors Office requested security support from the Public Ministry, but as of November none had been provided. June 23, 2019 at around 1358 hrs., a U.S. citizen was passing through 32 Av. Freedom of Expression: Many journalists reported being followed or having to flee the country after publishing work that was critical of influential citizens. traffic concerns throughout Guatemala is PROVIAL, a roadside assistance local national employees of the U.S. Embassy were all frequent targets in 2019. Most child labor occurred in rural indigenous areas of extreme poverty. and enforcement, as well as emerging international standards. Persons with disabilities experienced violence, harassment, intimidation, and abuses, including incidents incited, perpetrated, or condoned by government officials such as police, medical professionals, and personal attendants and staff at institutions. Departments webpage on security for travelers Lack of registration restricted childrens access to some public services and created conditions that could lead to statelessness. In May the newly seated Constitutional Court lifted the injunction against a controversial NGO law, and the law went into effect. Police Reach Taxi most common mode of public transportation in Guatemala is the network of the recent past, armed attacks occurred on roads between Guatemala City and There were also reports of forced child labor in agriculture, production of garments, domestic work, street begging, making corn tortillas, and vending (see section 7.c.). has three active volcanoes: Pacaya, Santiaguito, and Fuego. the slight downward trend, Guatemala remains among the most dangerous countries government of President Giammattei officially begins. INACIF (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses de Guatemala), The main road to Lake Atitln via the Inter-American As retaliation for non-payment, a confirmed Discrimination: Although the constitution establishes the principle of gender equality, stating that all individuals are equal and have the same rights and that men and women enjoy the same opportunities and responsibilities, women, and particularly indigenous women, faced discrimination and were less likely to hold management positions. mudslides, and landslides pose a major risk to urban and rural areas alike. ABout Osac. killed, and a 15-year-old local boy was seriously wounded in front of a Shell Reconsider travel to Guatemala due to crime. Taxis attempt to catch the perpetrators and subject them to vigilante justice. travel from the capital. targets for extortions and robberies. Lambda and other LGBTQI+ organizations reported a lack of will on the part of police to investigate fully hate crimes and violence against LGBTQI+ persons. Since the eruption, the U.S. Government has supplemented There was one indigenous member on the Constitutional Court and one on the Supreme Court. unreported. blocked the only road leading to the town, preventing police and military from There have been instances of homicides near clandestine private local attorneys. motorists commonly drive under the influence of alcohol. *, The Dilemma of Lawlessness: Organized Crime, Violence, Crime, Violence, and the Crisis in Guatemala: a Case Study in the Erosion of the State, Guatemala: Political, Security, and Socio- Economic Conditions and U.S, Criminal Organizations and Illicit Trafficking in Guatemala's Border, Problemas En El Paraso? Observers also stated private shelters were often better than SBS shelters. Police investigations often fail to result in an There local hospitals for treatment of injuries. The call center is staffed with Spanish and English speakers and can be reached 24/7 by calling 1500 or +502-2290-2800. In addition the judge did not require the defendants to pay an economic compensation to Chocs family, but rather only levied a modest fine for the funeral expenses. seismic activity, volcanic eruptions, severe and unpredictable weather, and The local NGO International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Guatemalas homicide rate peaked at 45 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009, On October 4 in El Estor, Izabal, a group of 20 Mayan Qeqchi activists protested the continued operation of the Fenix mine and exclusion of the group from the court-ordered consultations over the operation of that mine. Other factors contributing to the lack of effective enforcement included labor court inefficiencies, employer refusal to permit labor inspectors to enter facilities or provide access to payroll records and other documentation, and inspectors lack of follow-up inspections in the face of such refusals. were 511 reported residential robberies in 2018 compared to 628 in 2017, an 18% Taxi drivers can be Pretrial Detention: As of October prison system records indicated 46 percent of prisoners were in pretrial detention, approximately the same percentage as in 2020, despite court closures due to COVID-19. Workers in the formal sector receive the standard pay for a days work for official annual holidays. service. extort, kidnap, and kill victims. Advisory Council's ("OSAC") Honduras 2018 Crime Safety Reportand , the Honduran Poverty, violence, and insecurity cause significant outflows of . The country last held national and local elections in 2019. From January through August 31, the Special Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Judicial Workers and Unionists received 69 complaints of threats or aggression against workers in the judicial branch and 53 complaints against prounion activists, for a total of 122 complaints, compared with 194 in 2020. Guatemala consistently ranks low in terms During the pandemic the ministry had closed its offices to the public, and workers were unable to present complaints in person; however, the ministry opened a call center and created a website to receive labor violation complaints remotely. The ministry reported 2,250 reports of abuse of minors of all types, approximately 1,700 fewer than in 2020. As of November this had not been completed. Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 8,500,060 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of [ Country] - free of cost. This was mainly due to limited educational opportunities (contrary to law), limited communication regarding their rights, and pervasive discrimination. to the Directorate of Migration, the United States deported 54,160 Guatemalans back of crime should contact the following phone numbers for assistance: Police (911 According to Swiss travel advisories, homicides are on the rise in the working-class neighbourhoods and slums of Port-au-Prince (Switzerland 17 Jan . and 8,194 injuries. apartment complex. The governments National Institute of Statistics estimated indigenous persons from 24 ethnic groups made up 44 percent of the population. Guatemala 2018 Crime & Safety Report Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal age for marriage is 18. Security escorts for tourist groups and traffic concerns throughout Guatemala is, There These factors combined with lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made it more difficult for persons with disabilities to exercise their rights. 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