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General Secretariat Appoints Members to the Special Mission to Strengthen Democratic Institutions in Guatemala

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert R. Ramdin, announced the deployment of a new Special Mission to Guatemala as a continuation of the Mission the OAS deployed in 2024 to observe the selection process for the Supreme Court of Justice, the Courts of Appeals, and other courts of equal rank.

To that end, the Secretary General appointed María Paulina Aguirre (Ecuador), Carlos Ayala Corao (Venezuela), and Marcela Ríos Tobar (Chile) as members of the Special Mission to Strengthen Democratic Institutions in Guatemala.

“The designation of this Mission reaffirms the OAS’s commitment to the principles enshrined in the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter. I thank the Government of Guatemala for its willingness to receive this Mission, whose central objective is to provide technical and impartial accompaniment to key processes for democracy and the rule of law. We have full confidence in the experience and integrity of its members, who will undertake this responsibility with professionalism, independence, and adherence to the highest inter-American standards,” said Secretary General Ramdin.

María Paulina Aguirre is an attorney and judge and has served as President of Ecuador’s National Court of Justice.

Carlos Ayala Coraois an attorney specializing in constitutional law and human rights. He currently serves as President of the International Commission of Jurists. Previously, he was President and Commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

Marcela Ríos Tobar is a sociologist and political scientist. She is the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at International IDEA and served as Chile’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights.

The Mission is expected to arrive in Guatemala in the coming weeks to carry out its activities and meet with national authorities and other relevant actors.

Established at the invitation of the Government of Guatemala and within the mandate of OAS resolution OEA/AG/RES. 2766 (XLIII-O/13), Promotion and Strengthening of Democracy, the Mission will monitor the selection processes for the Attorney General, Justices of the Constitutional Court, Magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and the Comptroller General. It will also promote an inclusive and participatory dialogue with all sectors of society aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.

The Mission has opened a channel of communication with private institutions, civil society organizations, and the public at large to receive information relevant to its work. Any information may be sent by email to the Office of the Secretary General in Guatemala: [email protected].)

Reference: E-057/25