Guatemala: UN expert concerned about legal action against prominent lawyer

18 September 2023

GENEVA (18 September 2023) – A UN expert today expressed serious concern about the detention and trial of prominent lawyer Claudia González, which may amount to retaliation for her work as a human rights lawyer.

“Claudia González’s case appears to be the latest in a series of similar cases targeting judges, prosecutors, and lawyers who have worked on corruption or human rights cases in Guatemala,” said Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

Satterthwaite expressed grave concern about the pattern of criminal proceedings against judicial officials as a result of their work on cases of corruption or human rights violations in the country. She called on authorities to take urgent measures to ensure the protection of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other judicial officials.

Claudia González was arrested and charged with abuse of authority on 28 August 2023. The arrest followed a search of her home ordered by the Attorney General's Office as part of an investigation against her. At the request of the Attorney General’s Office, the case was placed under “reserve”. This means that the details of the case can only be known by the accused, her defence and her representatives. As a result, her first hearing, nine days after her arrest, was held behind closed doors.

More:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/09/guatemala-un-expert-concerned-about-legal-action-against-prominent-lawyer