Guatemala

President Alejandro Giammattei and his allies deepened the democratic backsliding in Guatemala in an apparent effort to avoid accountability for widespread high-level corruption. Authorities, often acting in coordination with businesspeople, have undermined the rule of law and weakened human rights guarantees. The Attorney General’s Office has blocked investigations into corruption and human rights violations and brought arbitrary proceedings against independent journalists, prosecutors, and judges. Journalists and human rights defenders continue to face harassment and violence. Abuses against migrants, poor protection of LGBT people, and high-levels of poverty, especially among the Indigenous, remain serious concerns.