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N° 14/09
IACHR REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM GUATEMALA Washington, D.C., March 27, 2009 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its concern over the kidnapping of Gladis Elizabeth Monterroso Velásquez de Morales, the wife of the Human Rights Prosecutor of Guatemala, who was subject to torture and abuse by her kidnappers.
According to the information received by the IACHR, the kidnapping of Mrs. Monterroso Velásquez on March 25, 2009, took place in a context in which officials of the Office of the Human Rights Prosecutor of Guatemala reported being targets of threats and attacks, and coincided with the opening to the public of the National Police Historical Archive for the 1975-1985 period. The archive contains evidence of the participation of the National Police in extrajudicial executions, acts or torture, and illegal detentions during Guatemala’s internal armed conflict.
The IACHR has requested information from the State of Guatemala about the facts related to the kidnapping of Mrs. Monterroso Velásquez, in accordance with Article 41 of the American Convention of Human Rights.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this matter. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who act in a personal capacity, without representing a particular country, and who are elected by the OAS General Assembly.
Read this press release in Spanish / Lea este comunicado de prensa en español
Press contact: María Isabel
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