A United Nations panel of experts has urged independent probes regarding Guatemala’s departing Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, concerning potential ties to allegedly unlawful international adoption procedures involving Indigenous minors. This appeal stems from an orphanage where Porras acted as director during a seven-month period 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 prominent episodes during her administration involved former Attorney General Thelma Aldana. After Aldana sought to run for Guatemala’s presidency, the Public Prosecutor’s Office under Porras brought charges against her and issued an arrest warrant, prompting the former official to leave the country and settle in 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 fresh United Nations appeals emerge as Porras finishes her second tenure as attorney general, compounding the scrutiny gathered throughout her leadership of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The specialists’ demand aims to shed light on the accusations concerning Indigenous minors and ascertain whether state authorities could bear accountability for the contested adoption procedures.
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
