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 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 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 places renewed scrutiny on the human rights situation and administration of justice in Guatemala, particularly regarding investigations into possible abuses against Indigenous communities and the actions of institutions responsible for ensuring accountability.
Source: BBC News Mundo — BBC News Mundo
