THE ANTICORRUPTION LAW

Guatemala, October 31, 2012. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala welcomes the passing of the Anticorruption Law yesterday by the Congress of the Republic. CICIG considers this law to be an instrument that will facilitate the fight against a complex criminal and social phenomenon that renders the state apparatus ineffective and affects its economic assets.

The fight against corruption must be comprehensive and systematic, based on the creation of strong and democratic public institutions. As public office-bearers serve the people, it is also necessary for there to be effective, transparent and legitimate structures. The passing of the new law is one step further in the fight against corruption and impunity.

The new law also complies with the commitments entered into by the State of Guatemala under the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (Decree No. 15-2001), the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Decree No. 87-2003) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (Decree No. 91-2005)—all of which were ratified by the Congress of the Republic. These conventions promote the classification of a number of crimes, and their inclusion in the Criminal Code is deemed to be of great importance in the fight against impunity in Guatemala.

Democracy is never complete and is constantly being constructed; additional laws will be needed for its consolidation. CICIG hopes the legislative branch will take actions in this regard.

The Agreement establishing CICIG grants the Commission the authority to make recommendations to the State regarding the adoption of public policies.