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A starting point for justice in Guatemala

20 August 2013
A high-level international delegation of trade union leaders has gained a commitment from Guatemala’s President that he will publicly speak out about the need to respect and protect the lives of union members and to recognize the crucial role of public service workers in forming a democratic society.

President Otto Pérez Molina acknowledged that, “It is very shameful for us that our country is the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists today.”

Rosa Pavanelli, leader of the global union federation Public Services International which organized the mission, told the President and his Labour, Health and Interior Ministers that, “Defending the rights of our affiliate trade union members in Guatemala is our top priority – and it will remain so until the situation for trade unionists and workers in this country improves. More must be done. Not a single person has yet been sentenced in any of the cases of the 58 trade union leaders who have been murdered in recent years.”

Pavanelli said, “We have to underline the total absence of the rule of law, which means that in a power relation the worker always loses. The state fails to provide protection and support to its citizens and as a result is an accomplice of the crimes that are committed every day. The denial of justice is a crime against humanity.”

Download and read the full press release (PDF)

 

Presentación al Presidente de Guatemala: http://www.world-psi.org/es/ponencia-ante-presidente-guatemala

PSI presentation to Guatemala’s President: http://www.world-psi.org/en/presentation-president-guatemala

Fotos/Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/psi_isp_iska/sets/

Video: www.youtube.com/user/PSIglobalunion

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