A United Nations panel of experts has called for independent investigations into Guatemala’s outgoing Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, over possible links to allegedly illegal international adoption processes involving Indigenous children. The request is connected to a children’s home where Porras served as director for seven months in 1982.
The UN said it had received information concerning at least 80 Indigenous children who were placed at the Elisa Martínez Temporary Home, an institution that was later shut down. The experts expressed concern over the lack of an independent and impartial investigation to establish what happened to the children and determine the possible involvement of state authorities in the adoption processes.
The case has drawn particular attention because of Porras’ career as head of Guatemala’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. During her tenure, human rights organizations and critics accused her administration of targeting judges, prosecutors, and journalists who investigated corruption cases or challenged government actions.
One of the most notable controversies throughout her tenure centered around former Attorney General Thelma Aldana. Following Aldana’s bid for the presidency of Guatemala, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, directed by Porras, filed charges against her and ordered her arrest, which forced the ex-official to flee the nation and relocate to the United States.
Former Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI) chief Juan Francisco Sandoval also criticized Porras’ conduct. According to testimony cited by BBC Mundo, during her administration some complaints that could have implicated then-President Alejandro Giammattei and people close to him were transferred to other prosecutors’ offices, which Sandoval said made it more difficult for the investigations to move forward.
The new United Nations requests come as Porras concludes her second term as attorney general and add to the criticism accumulated during her years leading the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The experts’ call seeks to clarify the allegations involving Indigenous children and determine whether public officials may have been responsible for the adoption processes in question.
The case also brings renewed attention to Guatemala’s human rights climate and judicial system, especially concerning inquiries into potential violations against Indigenous populations and the conduct of agencies tasked with enforcing accountability.
Source: BBC News Mundo — BBC News Mundo
