International News
The Council of Administration of MEDEL, meeting today in Florence, Italy, unanimously approved a statement on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You can read the statement below.
MEDEL – Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés, has been informed of the developments regarding the judiciary in Guatemala and the situation of Judge Erika Lorena Aifán Dávila, of the Juzgado de Primera Instancia Penal, Narcoactividad y Delitos contra el Ambiente de Mayor Riesgo.
Judge Erika Aifán has been the target of constant attacks from the authorities of Guatemala, undermining the independence of the Judiciary and putting at risk her life, work and decisions, taken only under the law.
MEDEL is present from 24 to 27 February 2020 at the Second High-Level Meeting of the Global Judiciary Integrity Network, held in Doha, Qatar, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Tirza Del Carmen Flores Lanza and Guillermo López Lone, appeal court judge and judge in the district court of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, together with two colleagues, took part in a demonstration against the coup d’État that in 2009 deposed president Zelaya. Both have been members and co- founders of the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia, in Honduras.
During this time, the judges took actions in defense of the rule of law and carried out their duties to defend it. They were dismissed from their positions for actions such as participating in demonstrations against the coup, publishing newspaper articles opposing the new government and making comments against the coup to judicial colleagues.
Having been informed by our member association Jueces para la Democracia of the situation involving the Chilean Judge D. Daniel Urrutia Lebreaux, the bureau of MEDEL has approved to fully subscribe the statement here bellow (in its original Spanish version and the English translation), issued by Jueces para la Democracia, and express solidarity with the Judge affected.
Ayant été informé par notre association membre Jueces para la Democracia sur la situation mettant en cause le juge chilien D. Daniel Urrutia Lebreaux,le bureau de MEDEL a approuvé de souscrire pleinement la déclaration ci-dessous (dans sa version originale en espagnol et la traduction en anglais et français), de Jueces para la Democracia et d’exprimer sa solidarité avec le juge affecté.
On the last days, MEDEL got news from Turkey, which give rise to great concern about the stability of the democracy, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in that country.
In fact, there is news about an eminent project to reform the High Judicial Council, the supreme governing body of the judiciary and guardian of judicial independence and rule of law.
The reform project suggests to permit a direct interference of the Government on the carrier of judges and prosecutors and on the internal management of the judiciary.
En la lucha contra la impunidad es histórica la sentencia de 10 de mayo de 2013 dictada por un Tribunal guatemalteco al condenar por primera vez a un dictador en Latinoamérica por genocidio y crímenes contra la humanidad.
El juicio fue un testimonio de la resistencia y el coraje de las víctimas, quienes después de tres décadas de impunidad institucionalizada y negación oficial de los hechos, se atrevieron a denunciar ante un Tribunal nacional la violencia sistemática desplegada por el Ejército guatemalteco.
May 10th, 2013 because of a ruling by a Guatemalan court to for the first time condemn a dictator in Latin America for genocide and crimes against humanity, marks an historic day in the struggle against impunity.
The trial was a proof of the strength and the courage of the victims, who after three decades of institutionalized impunity and official denial of the facts, dared to denounce the systematic violence by the Guatemalan army before a national court.
It also constitutes a testimony of the courage of plaintiffs lawyers and human rights activists, prosecutors and judges who strove to bring the case to a successful conclusion, with a systematic campaign of institutional vilification.
"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison."
Nelson Mandela will remain to be an inspiration for us.
The 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty will take place in Madrid between 12-15 June 2013.
During three days, united members of international civil society, politicians, and legal experts will have a chance to elaborate abolitionist strategies for the years to come at the national, regional, and international levels, and to send out a clear message to the world: that universal abolition is essential for a world where progress and justice must prevail.
