Peacebuilding and impunity on the agenda for Ban visit to Guatemala

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Guatemala next week for a three-day visit that will focus on peacebuilding issues and the Central American country’s efforts to combat impunity.

Mr. Ban is set to arrive in Guatemala on Tuesday and will meet with President Alvaro Colom and members of his Cabinet, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists today.

Mr. Ban will visit the offices of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, known as CICIG, Mr. Haq said.

The United Nations and the Guatemalan Government set up CICIG as an independent body to support the public prosecutors’ office, the national civilian police and other institutions to investigate a limited number of sensitive and difficult cases regarding illegal security groups and clandestine security organizations and also dismantle them.

Based in Guatemala City, the capital, since it began operations in early 2008, CICIG seeks to bolster the rule of law and is permitted by its mandate to conduct independent investigations and help authorities bring representative cases to trial in national courts.

During his visit to Guatemala, Mr. Ban will also take part in a ceremony to launch the UN Peacebuilding Fund’s engagement with the country and meet with representatives of local civil society, including indigenous groups.

The UN chief will also attend a meeting with the heads of State of Central American countries to discuss regional issues.

This will be Mr. Ban’s first visit to Guatemala since he became Secretary-General at the start of 2007.