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 stated that it had obtained reports regarding a minimum of 80 Indigenous minors who stayed at the Elisa Martínez Temporary Home, a facility that was subsequently closed. The specialists voiced apprehension regarding the absence of an independent and unbiased inquiry to clarify the children’s fate and ascertain any potential complicity by government officials in the adoption procedures.
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 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
