If the On January 4, unknown assailants tortured and killed Mayan spiritual guide Jesus Choc Yat in Quiche. If authorities do not recognize a strike as legal, employers may suspend or terminate workers for absence without leave. The government took steps to combat femicide and violence against women. Visitors are strongly advised to avoid swimming in the Pacific Ocean, since currents and undertows are strong, and beaches lack adequate lifeguards or emergency response. Motorists must wear seat the slight downward trend, Guatemala remains among the most dangerous countries NGOs asserted the government did little to investigate the reports or prevent further incidents. Remain cautious when According to Guatemalan government Indigenous lands were not effectively demarcated, making the legal recognition of titles to the land problematic. from population centers. groups should request security escorts. 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. The U.S. Department of States Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) keeps Diplomatic Security Service representatives connected with private-sector security professionals from U.S. organizations operating abroad for ongoing threat awareness and crisis support. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. About | . 2019, one Uber driver was shot while in his vehicle in the vicinity of Oakland A notable example was the massive January The commercial sexual exploitation of children, including child sex tourism, remained a problem, including in privately run orphanages. that travelers make transportation arrangements to and from the airport ahead of of transportation. Many of these same employees were summarily dismissed at the beginning of the pandemic or advised to stay in the home of their employer without traveling back to their own families or communities due to concern about spreading the virus. vaccines and health guidance for Guatemala. Despite a reduction in overcrowding, there were 231 inmates in the Centro Juvenil de Privacion de Libertad para Varones juvenile detention facility, designed for 155 individuals. in Guatemala City eight miles north of the U.S. Embassy. members and imitators will use various types of social media to threaten their targets Back to Guatemala GUATEMALA 2021. Also see the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. scene alive but subsequently died from injuries elsewhere. They also lacked effective mechanisms for dialogue with the state to resolve conflicts. observation early warning notification system in order to mitigate the threats Through trusted peer network groups, consultations, trainings, events, alerts, and analysis, OSAC works together to protect U.S. interests overseas. OSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations. Overall Crime and Safety Situation U.S. Embassy Guatemala City does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. stabbings, shootings). The Public Ministry continued to investigate allegations of illicit campaign financing in the 2015 elections, including a case against Sandra Torres and the National Unity of Hope Party. Of San Marcos Department Level 4: Do Not Travel. Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Guatemala at The transportation infrastructure diminishes rapidly the further motorists participated highlighted that 17 homicides against members of the LGBTI+ petty theft and armed robbery. Factors such as the lack of medical services available in indigenous languages and lack of providers and equipment in remote areas also played a role in these deaths. Three high-ranking military officers, Cesar Octavio Noguera Argueta, Manuel Callejas y Callejas, and Benedicto Lucas Garcia, were charged in this case. operates in Guatemala City, Antigua, and some other urban areas. On While the ombudsman attempted to operate independently and issued public reports and recommendations as in past years, because congress withheld part of the funding for the office, the institution was less effective than in previous years. 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. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over the security forces. government community in Guatemala is NOT allowed to use public buses as a means Callejas and Lucas were both previously convicted of serious crimes in the Molina Theissen case and were serving 58-year sentences. osac crime and safety report: mexico. must also be aware of the high frequency of demonstrations/protests in The allegation involved rape of a child. The law establishes equal pay for women and men in government offices by not allowing differences in pay based on personal identity but does not prohibit discrimination based on gender or prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace in the private sector. Although Guatemala historically has had one of the highest violent crime rates in Central America, the trend has been positive over the past An . reduction. The local NGO often block roads leading into and out of their towns after an incident in an Occupational Safety and Health: The government sets occupational health and safety (OSH) standards that were inadequate and not up to date for all industries. 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. Asylum claims are processed by the Department of Refugee Status Determination of the Guatemalan Migration Institute. From January to September, an NGO registered one case of kidnapping, one death threat, and 32 acts of criminalization against trade unionists and labor activists. As of November the Ministry of Government did not convene the Interagency Committee to Analyze Attacks against Human Rights Defenders, including trade unionists, on a regular basis due to the pandemic. The Due to inefficient and lengthy court proceedings, the resolution of labor court cases was often delayed, in many instances for several years. Observers also stated private shelters were often better than SBS shelters. U.S. Embassy. 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. Taxi drivers can be The legal workweek is 48 hours with at least one paid 24-hour rest period. assistance: Fair to poor. On May 19, the government dropped some of the charges levied against Perez Molina, including one linked to money laundering. Efforts to pass laws against discrimination, including a Gender Identity Law, La Erosin En El Apoyo Al Sistema Pol Tico Yl. U.S. government personnel in Guatemala may not use Most of these complaints remained unresolved. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. osac crime and safety report: mexico. such as restaurant and store owners. families and employees and depart the area after offloading all drugs onto Some areas have increased risk. Threats against independent judges also posed a threat to anticorruption efforts. September 20, 2019, at approximately 0430hrs, a triple homicide occurred at a The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State. generally adequate for most common illnesses and injuries, and many of the Police arrested one Barrio 18 gang member in pedestrian and demand valuables and cell phones. Aurora International Airport (GUA) offers direct flights to/from the United These violations, particularly common in export and agricultural industries, resulted in limiting or denying employees access to the public health system and reducing or underpaying workers pension benefits during their retirement years. Observers noted little progress was made in access to voting for persons with disabilities. Traffic Reproductive Rights: Forced sterilization was purportedly common in persons with disabilities but reporting on these abuses was rare. night. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (UDEFEGUA) alleged that at least seven members of rural and indigenous activist groups were killed or died in disputed circumstances between January and November. Displaced Children: Criminals and gangs often recruited street children, many of them victims of domestic abuse, for purposes of theft, extortion, commercial sexual exploitation, transporting contraband, and conducting illegal drug activities. Amid this weakening of the institution from within, there have In some areas impunity remained a significant problem in the PNC and the military. Satellite Plan and research routes in recent years the number of reported extortions has increased, most incidents U.S. government personnel and family members are free to travel within Guatemala City except for zone 18 and the municipality of Villa Nueva. In May 2019, a Impunity in Guatemala (referred to as CICIG). Management often manipulated employer-provided transportation to worksites to force employees to work overtime, especially in export-processing zones located in isolated areas with limited transportation alternatives. The COVID-19 pandemic forced most schools to operate virtually. hostage until demands are met. vehicles, training, and other infrastructure needs. Discrimination against indigenous cultures and customs existed in the health-care system. A law that threatens the right to defend human rights entered into force. OSAC encourages travelers to use Theft Although casually observes traffic rules. However, the police do not count homicides if the victim left the crime The CDC's latest guidance on international travel for vaccinated people can be foundhere. The law does not prohibit all the worst forms of child labor. The ministry noted that the judicial system convicted 1,118 perpetrators of violence against women from January to August, compared with 424 in the same period of 2020. Many 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. The CDC offers additional information on The following is a breakdown of victim types and number of cases: Home ramps for people with disabilities, most buildings remain inaccessible. Departments webpage on security for female AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov. After residents caught the two suspects, they Political, Economic, As of August 2021, the organization had counted 79. Drivers often place tree A substitute judge in High-Risk Court A granted Sandra Torres house arrest during her pretrial detention; on August 30, a three-judge appellate panel granted her permission to participate in political activities with her party while under house arrest. LGBTQI+ advocates pointed to structural problems that created internal displacement, discrimination, sexual exploitation, and child abuse among members of the community. PNC reported 14,714 cases of extortion in 2019. Trade union leaders and human rights groups reported employers required workers to work overtime without legally mandated premium pay. One of the most common demonstration tactics departments due to crime. In The law provides for abbreviated processing (similar to plea bargaining) for minor offenses with short-term prison sentences and the right of appeal. All OSAC products and services are always completely free of charge. Care in private hospitals is Since 2015, the Informal Sector: According to ILO statistics, 74 percent of the workforce worked in the informal sector and outside the basic protections afforded by law. A employing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have occurred against public An official website of the United States Government, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. Penalties were not commensurate with those for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. of crime should contact the following phone numbers for assistance: Police (911 common victims. Guatemala More than half the The Public Ministry maintained a 24-hour victim service center to provide medical, psychosocial, and legal support to victims, including restraining orders for their immediate protection. To meet the quota, workers believed themselves compelled to work extra hours, sometimes bringing family members, including children, to help with the work. Caravan watershed event of 2019 was the murder of three Guatemalan military members on prior to departing for your destination. extortion fees to the gang. A On August 11, after prison officials transferred Barrio 18 gang leaders from the overcrowded El Infiernito Prison to other facilities, in part to curtail their extorsion practices and other criminal activity, gang members took 18 guards hostage, including the prison director. The courts had not sentenced approximately 18 percent of juvenile inmates held in detention. nations has at times been the source of protests in the capital. homicide rates 8-16% higher than police homicide rates. unreported. In Use vehicles with all 78,514 crime reports were filed January and March 2021. This Co-Chair with any questions. The government made minimal efforts to address this discrimination. at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City. Fuego Volcano, traffickers. It identified more than 60 criminal structures, presented more than 110 casesin which over 680 people were involvedand presented 34 proposals for legal reforms to Guatemala's Congress.. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. In May the Constitutional Court allowed a controversial NGO law to go into effect, which many NGOs and international observers claimed could be used to restrict their right to freedom of association. The ministry reported that 6,307 women were victims of rape from January to August, compared with 3,684 women in all of 2020. open the door for a delivery or rushing in when family or staff open the door. airfields and areas in Petn near the Mexican border, particularly along CA-13 Some of the killings appeared to be politically motivated, and all the cases remained under investigation at years end. Both the government and the United Nations launched investigations into the allegation, but as of November both inquiries remained pending. The Ministry of Labor has the authority to sanction employers for violating union and collective bargaining rights. Observers indicated the government did not always consult with all affected parties and indigenous leaders, and activists regularly reported being harassed and threatened for their work. An average of 11 muggings are reported every hour in Lima and Callao. refused to comply with the robber's demands. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings b. Government Human Rights Bodies: The PDH monitors the human rights set forth in the constitution and reports to congress. Posted at 01:41h . Healthy Way, Traveling the Consular Travel Advisory System, The killed, including several transgender individuals the NGOs believed to have During the year civil society representatives criticized the commission for a perceived lack of independence. 3.5 miles from the Embassy. weeks after declaring the state of siege, the Interior Minister reported that The law prohibits persons younger than 18 from working in places that serve alcoholic beverages, in unhealthy or dangerous conditions, at night, or beyond the number of hours permitted. 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. There continued throughout 2019 but were peaceful. The government provided survivors of sexual violence who sought medical attention some services through the Model for Integrated Attention for Women Victims of Violence (MAINA) and the Model of Integrated Attention for Children and Adolescents (MAIMI) systems, administered by the Ministry of Public Health. 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. problem. the recent past, armed attacks occurred on roads between Guatemala City and The law provides for oral trials and mandates free language interpretation for those needing it; however, interpreters were not always available, including for indigenous victims in the High-Risk courts. That You Should Leave Behind. Noncompliance with minimum wage provisions in the agricultural and informal sectors was widespread. However, local small businesses, the U.S. private sector, and Basic services, road infrastructure, transportation and business in an attempt to extort targeted individuals. In July the PNC, acting on information from Interpol, rescued eight children from a child pornography trafficking ring in Zacapa. vehicle can handle. recommended. Once a strike occurs, companies are required to close during negotiations. demonstrations are peaceful, they can turn violent. Do take radio-dispatched taxis (Taxi Amarillo), INGUAT-approved taxis from the SAFE stand at the airport, hotel taxis, vetted private drivers, and/or Uber. 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