STATEMENT 104 | Photo: CICIG.

The International Conference: “Comparative Experiences of the Fight against Corruption and Impunity” was held with the participation of different sectors of society. This conference was carried out within the CICIG Strengthening Project, with the support of the German Cooperation and implemented at the request of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The purpose of the activity was to know the different experiences in Latin America concerning these two problems.

This event was carried out with the support of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the participation of the American Bar Association.

The Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy, Dr. Michael Grewe, highlighted in his welcoming remarks that good governance and the fight against corruption are indispensable for peaceful coexistence and the economic and human development.

Commissioner Iván Velásquez Gómez highlighted in his message: “Our experience has demonstrated that there is a future, it is possible to fight against corruption, but the responsibility to fight against corruption, the responsibility for an operating justice system and strong Guatemalan institutions is exclusively the responsibility of Guatemalans.”

Discussion Boards

The activity was developed in four discussion panels, with the participation of national and international guests, who addressed different issues related to the role played by the several actors of society in the fight against corruption and impunity.

The topics discussed in the panels were the following:

1. “The role of civil society in the fight against corruption,” which involved: Carlos Hernández, Transparencia Internacional (Honduras); Estuardo Porras Zadik, entrepreneur (Guatemala); Marielos Chang, Red Ciudadana (Guatemala); Alberto J. Mora, Director of ABA Global Programs (United States), and Jonathan Menkos, ICEFI (Guatemala). Moderator: Álvaro Montenegro, Justicia Ya (Guatemala).
2. “The role of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption: comparative experiences.”   Participants: Rony López Contreras, Secretary General of the Attorney General’s Office (Guatemala); Delia Dávila, Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice (Guatemala); Erika Aifan, Judge of the High-Risk Court D, Judicial Branch (Guatemala); Susana Ynes Castañeda, National Coordinator of Sistema Especializado en Delitos de Corrupción de Funcionarios (Peru), and Florentín Meléndez (El Salvador). Moderator: Paola Hurtado (Guatemala).
3. “The role of the media and journalists in the fight against corruption.” Participants: Héctor Silva, Insight Crime; Pedro Pablo Marroquin, La Hora (Guatemala); Haroldo Sánchez (Guatemala); Sergio Arauz, The Lighthouse (El Salvador); Ana Lucia Morales Chali (Guatemala). Moderator: Claudia Méndez, Con Criterio Radio y T.V. (Guatemala).
4. “Legal education, codes of ethics and the role of the legal profession in the fight against corruption.” Participants: Stephanie Lopez Villatoro, political scientist (Guatemala); Alejandro Balsells Conde, attorney (Guatemala); Oswaldo Samayoa, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; Milia Basir, a student at USAC, Carlos Martinez Roca, a student at URL (Guatemala). Moderator: Lorena Escobar – ASÍES (Guatemala).

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VIDEOS OF THE CONFERENCE: