Guatemala: Information on the existence of a branch of the Human Rights Commission in San Jose del Golfo
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM22688.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Information on the existence of a branch of the Human Rights Commission in San Jose del Golfo, 1 January 1996, GTM22688.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad0f34.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 4 January 1996 telephone interview with the DIRB, the coordinator of the human rights education program for the Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo (Mutual Support Group or GAM), Guatemala's oldest human rights organization, stated that he was not aware of the existence of any branch of the human rights commission in San Jose del Golfo.
The coordinator told the DIRB that as of mid-January 1996, GAM will put in place a nationwide human rights education program that will provide courses, seminars and information on human rights in various cities of Guatemala. The coordinator mentioned that these courses would be available in San Jose del Golfo. The coordinator also reported that human rights organizations have a relatively recent existence in Guatemala. Most of them were founded between 1984 and 1988 and are mainly located in Guatemala City.
The director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Action in Washington (with an office in Guatemala City) also told the DIRB in a 4 January 1996 telephone interview that he was not aware of any governmental or non-govermental human rights organizations having a main office or a branch in San Jose del Golfo.
In a 4 January 1996 telephone interview a representative of the Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Archidiócesis de Guatemala (Archdiocese Human Rights Office), after consultation with two of the archdiocese's lawyers specialized in human rights issues, told the DIRB that there are no international or national human rights organizations located in San Jose del Golfo.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo, Guatemala City. 4 January 1996. Telephone interview with the coordinator of the human rights education program.
Centre for Human Rights and Legal Action, Washington DC. 4 January 1996. Telephone interview with the director.
Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Archidiócesis de Guatemala, Guatemala City. 4 January 1996. Telephone interview with a representative.
