IACHR submits case to Inter-American Court over rights violations perpetrated by National Civil Police Officers in Guatemala

April 22, 2025

Washington, DC—On April 4, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) submitted Case No. 13.049, H.O.V.T. and others. v. Guatemala, to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IA Court). The case concerns human rights violations committed by agents of Guatemala's National Civil Police.

The incidents occurred between 2004 and 2010 in San Pedro Sacatepéquez. In 2004, Claudia Torres reported being sexually harassed by a National Civil Police officer, which triggered ongoing harassment and retaliatory actions by the police against her and her children.

In this climate of persecution, her 13-year-old son, H.O.V.T., was arbitrarily detained, beaten, and threatened with death by police in 2004. He was released but was then shot and killed in 2005. Other family members—M.I.V.T. and F.L.V.T.—were also detained and assaulted by police, as were family friends Walter Haroldo Caña Chiroy and Mario Lisandro Pocón Ramos.

In Merits Report No. 344/22, the IACHR took into consideration the death threats, injuries, and arbitrary detention of H.O.V.T., along with the broader campaign of intimidation against his family. The IACHR found that state agents were complicit in his killing, noting the State's failure to dispute or properly investigate the circumstances. Furthermore, the State did not provide an explanation for the abuse suffered by H.O.V.T., M.I.V.T., Mario Pocón, and Walter Caña while in police custody.

The IACHR also found that the detentions of the victims were unlawful and arbitrary, as there was no evidence or court orders to justify them. It further noted the State's failure to investigate the sexual harassment allegations made by Claudia Torres, H.O.V.T.'s mother, which constituted a grave omission in addressing an incident of gender-based violence.

Lastly, the IACHR acknowledged the suffering endured by the victims' families due to the loss of their loved ones and the absence of truth and justice, as the crimes have remained unpunished for over a decade.

Consequently, the IACHR concluded that the State of Guatemala is responsible for violations of articles 4.1 (right to life), 5.1 and 5.2 (personal integrity), 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 (personal liberty), 8.1 (judicial guarantees), 11 (honor and dignity), 19 (rights of the child), 24 (equal protection), and 25.1 (judicial protection) of the American Convention on Human Rights, in relation to article 1.1 of the same treaty, as well as article 7(b) of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women (Belém do Pará Convention), as detailed in its report.

Accoredingly, the IACHR requested that the IA Court mandate the following reparations:

1. Provide full material and moral redress for the human rights violations and assist in the repatriation of H.O.V.T.'s remains to Nicaragua.
2. Investigate the killings of H.O.V.T., Mario Lisandro Pocón Ramos, and Walter Haroldo Caña Chiroy; identify those responsible; and impose appropriate sanctions.
3. Investigate the mistreatment reported by the victims, identify those responsible, and impose appropriate sanctions.
4. Investigate the victims' unlawful and arbitrary detentions, establish the facts, and impose appropriate sanctions on those responsible for them.
5. Investigate the reports of sexual harassment filed by Claudia Emilia Torres Osorio de Valiente's and impose appropriate sanctions on those responsible.
6. Provide training to security forces on the prohibition of torture, ill-treatment, and gender-based violence, in accordance with international human rights standards.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (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. 076/25

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