Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 42nd Session

Universal Periodic Review of Guatemala

Statement by Australia

25 January 2023

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia commends Guatemala for the steps it has taken to progress human rights  since its last UPR appearance. Australia applauds the decision of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court to place a moratorium on the use of the death penalty for civil crimes. Australia welcomes the allocation of further resources to support Guatemala’s Ombudsman for Human Rights and the government’s efforts to support victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Australia recommends that Guatemala:

1. Take further steps to combat discrimination and violence, particularly against LGBTI persons, and on the basis of gender.
2. Continue to support civil society organisations and strengthen government institutions that work to promote and protect human rights, particularly the Office for the Defence of Indigenous Women, to ensure they can provide appropriate levels of service, including to remote communities.
3. Formally abolish the death penalty and accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

[156 words]