IACHR publishes friendly settlement agreements concerning Guatemala

August 5, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has published two friendly settlement agreements signed by the Guatemalan State and various petitioning parties concerning human rights violations. These agreements reaffirm the parties' shared commitment to seeking justice and comprehensive redress.

These agreements include Case 13,600—B.A.B.M, O.G.A.J., and R.C.M.P., concerning the arbitrary arrest and torture of B.A.B.M. by officers of the Criminal Investigation Service of Guatemala's National Police, as well as the medical and psychological damage this caused several members of his family. In this agreement, the State committed to holding an event to acknowledge its responsibility, publishing the relevant friendly settlement report, providing financial compensation for the material and immaterial harm that was caused, taking measures to improve access to justice, erasing police and criminal records, providing educational support and medical and psychological healthcare to relatives of the victim, and ensuring guarantees of non-recurrence.

Further, petitions P-2350-23—Roberto Arzu García Granados and P-2352-23—David Esteban Pineda Barrios concern a lack of protection and safeguards of the right to political participation. The relevant friendly settlement agreement stresses that political participation is a human right and allows all individuals to get involved—whether directly or through representatives—in the appointment of State officials and to take part in a State's political life. The State acknowledged its international responsibility in an event to issue a public apology and committed to posting this friendly settlement agreement on its official website and keeping it there for two years, as a measure of non-recurrence.

The IACHR commends the Guatemalan State on its efforts to solve cases that are taken before the petition and case system through its friendly settlement mechanism. The IACHR further congratulates the petitioners for their involvement in negotiations and their efforts to ensure implementation of these agreements.

The publication of these reports strengthens the IACHR's role in promoting and protecting human rights in the Americas, and it evidences the inter-American system's potential to develop effective, consensual solutions that reflect victims' interests and needs in terms of redress. The IACHR stresses its will to further support the implementation of all commitments made by the Guatemalan State in the context of these agreements, until full compliance has been attained.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 154/25

4:33 AM