PRESS RELEASE 008

SWEEDISH EMBASSY SIGNS AGREEMENT TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CICIG’S WORK AGAINST IMPUNITY

Guatemala, September 2, 2009. – The Sweedish Embassy signed an extension of its Cooperation Agreement with the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) for US $1.3M in order to ensure the continuity of CICIG’s work in the new phase that begins with renewal of the mandate.

CICIG's work is of decisive importance to combat and put an end to the high rates of crime, violence and impunity in the country. With this extension, Sweden’s cooperation since the start of the Commission totals US $ 5,500,000.

"We are convinced that CICIG’s efforts against violence and impunity in the country are the cornerstone of a new Guatemala that urgently needs to live in peace, without violence and with full justice,", said Ewa Werner-Dahlin, Ambassador of Sweden.

The fight against impunity and the strengthening of the capacity of State institutions to guarantee its citizens’ human rights are priorities for the Swedish Cooperation Strategy for Guatemala. Swedish cooperation with CICIG is part of that strategy.

CICIG work has reached a crucial point. In the coming months it will bear more fruit in terms of investigating cases that will be brought to justice as well as continued support in strengthening national authorities in their capacity to investigate and prosecute illegal groups and parallel structures.

CICIG’s recommendations to the Guatemalan Government and the Congress of the Republic for the adoption of new laws, criminal policy and mechanisms and procedures aimed at strengthening State institutions in their fight against impunity are vital to the country's democratic development.

In the long term, Sweden hopes that CICIG will leave an improved installed capacity in the State institutions mandated to guarantee the rule of law.

"To contribute to the fulfillment of the Peace Accords and establish a country that lives in the rule of law with public security for all - girls, boys, women and men - is an obligation of the international community together with the Guatemalan people,"said Ewa Werner-Dahlin, Ambassador of Sweden.

CICIG Commissioner’s Words

I wish to publicly thank the Kingdom of Sweden, which has always been at the forefront of the promotion of the Commission, even before its creation, always offering political, financial and operational support.

The contribution of the Kingdom of Sweden to the establishment of the rule of law in Guatemala is very significant, because it paves the way for the Commission’s activities in the third year that is now beginning.

Many countries are Guatemala’s friends, particularly the Kingdom of Sweden, which provides assistance to Guatemala and is committed to strengthening democracy. I wish to echo what ambassador Ewa Werner-Dahlin said in the sense that democracy is not only a political system in which public appointments are renewed periodically, but above all, it embodies the rule of law, a society governed by the law, in which the law applies equally to the powerful, the disadvantaged, the rich and the poor, to everyone, independent from their social, racial, sexual or other status.

In that regard, building the rule of law, strengthening institutions, so that some day Guatemalans can effectively enjoy the fundamental rights recognized by the Constitution, so that there is a Civilian National Police, a Public Prosecutor’s Office, a Judiciary and a Penitentiary System, which guarantee the effective enjoyment of those rights is the main objective for building an advanced democratic society, and on that road, Guatemala has a primary partner in Sweden.