Justice and Accountability
Supporting survivors who seek justice for crimes committed during the Internal Armed Conflict
Background
Since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, Guatemalan individuals and organizations have courageously sought justice. The U.S. government provided financial support and training to the Guatemalan military, responsible for the egregious human rights violations that occurred during 36 years of Internal Armed Conflict. According to the UN Historical Clarification Commission, over 200,000 people were killed and an additional 45,000 forcibly disappeared by state forces.
With creativity and bravery, survivors work daily to defend and restore collective memory of the genocide. They aim to guarantee that genocide is never repeated, while taking on the unfinished liberatory work of those who were taken by state violence.
Cases
Latest NISGUA reports on Justice and Accountability
Latest from the NISGUA blog
The General on trial
A personal reflection by Phil Neff, Guatemala Accompaniment Project Coordinator for NISGUAA cold evening fog had fallen over the Plaza of Human Rights outside Guatemala City's Court Tower, where two hundred survivors of massacres perpetrated [...]
Efraín Ríos Montt to Stand Trial for Genocide
"Impunity is a perverse state that damages not only the victim, but society in general." - Judge Flores "We have to celebrate this historic event. Our struggle has become reality. It was worth it." - AJR activistLast [...]
Ríos Montt Linked to Genocide Process
Statement from CALDH and AJRThe Court has restored hope to Guatemalan society, which has waited nearly 30 years for the atrocities committed against the Mayan people to be recognized. In an historic and momentous act [...]
Former General Otto Pérez Molina’s First Days in Office
On January 14, former General Otto Pérez Molina assumed office as the next president of Guatemala, promising change. Pérez Molina has sworn that his administration will produce results within 6 months by implementing new iron-fist [...]