Commissioner Iván Velásquez and Maira Véliz, secretary general of the Ministry for Public Health presided over a discussion addressing constitutional reforms in the justice sector. Participating were representatives from Maya organisations and the justice and disability sectors.
Guatemala’s El Periodico reported how in the meeting, organisations advocated for reforms in the justice sector that would have a focus on persons with disabilities and indigenous populations. At the event, the creation of technical working groups were also announced, the claimed objective of which is the analysis of the application of procedures for conflict resolution.
Véliz assured those present that work is being done in conjunction with the office of the human rights ombudsperson on the call in eight departments to discuss changes required.
Iván Velásquez, who heads the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), expressed his optimism about constitutional reforms in the judicial sector, but during the meeting, various social organisations manifested distrust around possible modifications they believed could be made by members of parliament given they had been deceived on other occasions.
On being consulted on emerging changes in legislation, the commissioner assured those present that he was not personally aware of deception the population had experienced, but that he was looking positively at the realization of the proposal.
Norma Cruz, from Fundación Sobrevivientes, requested people to remain vigilant till August, when the reforms are expected to reach congress.
