HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OUTLINES FIVE-YEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 002070

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS SNAR KCRM KDEM GT
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OUTLINES FIVE-YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN OF ACTION AND PRIORITIES


Classified By: Amb. James Derham for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (U) Human Rights Ombudsman Sergio Morales highlighted his
accomplishments during his first term in office and presented
his strategic plan of action and priorities for the next five
years to the international donor community at a recent forum.
He thanked the community for its support and announced that
during his second term he will better coordinate
international support to more effectively carry out his
mandate.


2. (U) Morales outlined five strategic areas of focus,
including institutional strengthening and development, and
public education and sensitization in human rights. The end
goal, he said, is to construct a culture of respect for the
rule of law. He proposed increasing the presence of the
Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) nationwide by
doubling the number of regional offices and elevating the
role of PDH in educating the public. Currently, PDH has 23
offices and 700 employees nationwide.


3. (U) Deputy Human Rights Ombudsman Maria Eugenia Morales
affirmed that PDH is committed to creating a national
register of kidnappings and addressing the theme of
victimization as a top priority. She stressed the need to
sensitize all levels of the government hierarchy, including
the most senior levels, to avoid "double victimization" --
first as the victim of a human rights abuse and secondly as
the victim of the bureaucracy when authorities claim lack of
knowledge and fail to take action.


4. (U) PDH has budgeted USD 15 million in its 2008 operating
plan to implement its five areas of focus. The GOG has
committed USD 10 million while international donors have
pledged USD 1 million, leaving a gap of USD 4 million.


5. (C) Comment: While the PDH five-year strategic plan of
action addresses areas of real need, the extent to which it
will deliver results is questionable. The plan appears more
to be about extending Morales' bureaucratic empire than about
tackling difficult human rights challenges. With family
connections to the ownership of newspaper "Prensa Libre"
(Guatemala's most important daily),Morales plays to the
media, draws public attention, and enjoys good media coverage
despite a performance that is relatively short on real
achievements that advance human rights in Guatemala.
Derham