Between 19 and 30 October 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers participated in the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala, together with the Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), the Association of Human Rights Lawyers, Judges, and Prosecutors of Latin America and the Caribbean (AJUFIDH), the Association of Judges for Democracy (JJpD), and the Spanish Association for Human Rights (ADPHE).
The Mission aimed to impartially observe, document, and assess the situation of judicial independence and the legal profession in Guatemala. The press release issued at the conclusion of the Mission reads as follows:
Preliminary Findings of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala
Guatemala, October 29, 2025 – For several years now, international bodies, independent missions, and civil society organizations have been warning about the progressive deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala. Six months ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers carried out an official visit to Guatemala and warned of serious risks to judicial independence and the legal profession.
The International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala, composed of the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), the Association of Human Rights Lawyers, Judges, and Prosecutors of Latin America and the Caribbean (AJUFIDH), the Association of Judges for Democracy (JJpD), and the Spanish Association for Human Rights (ADPHE), visited the country with the aim of impartially observing, documenting, and assessing the situation of judicial independence and the practice of law.
During our visit, we conducted interviews with current and former justice operators, lawyers, persons deprived of liberty, civil society organizations, embassies, academics, and relevant legal and political institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the Bar Association of Guatemala, the Ministry of the Interior and Universities. The Public Prosecutor’s Office declined the invitation to participate in these interviews.
Main findings: structural patterns that threaten the Rule of Law
The preliminary findings are alarming: the patterns of intimidation, criminalization, and persecution against independent judges, prosecutors, and lawyers, as well as against human rights defenders, indigenous leaders, journalists, and civil society representatives, have not only become entrenched but also reveal a structural scheme that uses criminal law as a tool to control State institutions. This scheme also restricts the exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of association, social protest, and freedom of expression.
[…]
Lawyering under pressure
The climate of fear has created a chilling effect on the legal profession, especially among those who defend human rights. Self-censorship, reluctance to take on cases, and shifts in litigation strategies toward more cautious or defensive approaches have been documented. In interviews, lawyers described feeling powerless: their legal expertise is no longer sufficient to secure justice for their clients, as applying the law does not guarantee fair outcomes within a co-opted judicial system.
For those practicing law in this context, every professional decision can have serious consequences, making their work high-risk and subject to constant surveillance. The Mission also observed social media attacks, physical surveillance, theft of information, and the inclusion of lawyers representing certain clients on “blacklists.” These pressures not only erode legal defence work but also restrict society’s access to – and trust in – justice.
Preliminary findings of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala
