Guatemala

Guatemala

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	The first assertion of the right to associate in Guatemala is located in the Constitutive Law of 1879, which was the Constitutive order issued on December 11. The right is found in Title II, Article 25 (“Constitutions 1830-1900 Reform”, 2015). “Constitutions 1830-1900 Reform.” 2015. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. May 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003356/http://www.minex.gob.gt/ADMINPORTAL/Data/DOC/20100930181643120Consti1830-1900reform.ydcretos.pdf.
Freedom of Expression	History	The 1823 Constitutional Bases mentioned freedom of thought, which was officially installed as a right in the 1825 First Constitution the State of Guatemala in Article 25. The pattern of short, turbulent regimes during the 20th century manifested in numerous constitutions, all of which guaranteed freedom of expression and opinion. Most recently, the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala from 1985/86 grants freedom of expression “through any means of dissemination, without censorship or prior permission.” References: English translation of the Spanish original text of the fundamental law of 1823, 114 (2017) https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzgt0103&id=4&men_tab=srchresults English translation of the Spanish orignal text of the Constitution of 1825, 117 (2017) https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzgt0100&id=2&collection=cow&index= English Translation of the Spanish Original Text of the Constitution of 1985/86, 10 (1986) https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzgt0106&id=10&men_tab=srchresults
Freedom of Religion	History	Guatemala’s first state constitution was enacted in 1825 however it stated that the country’s official religion is to be the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion. However, the freedom to identify with, or practice, alternative religions first was asserted in 1839 under Decree Number 76, which is titled the “Law of Guarantees.” Article III states, “The Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion is that of the State; it shall be protected by the laws, and its establishments and ministers respected, but those who may be of another faith shall not be molested therefor.” Sources: “Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 19, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzgt0087&collection=cow
Freedom of the Press	History	Article 175 of Guatemala’s first Constitution, which it ratified as a province in the United Provinces of Central America in 1824, protected press freedom: “The Congress, the Assemblies, or the other authorities may not restrict, in any case or by any pretext, the freedom of thought, that of the word, that of writing and that of the press” (Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, “Title X. Guarantees of individual freedom”). [Translated from Spanish] Today, Article 35 of Guatemala’s 1985 Constitution protects press freedom: “The publications which contain denunciations, criticisms, or accusations [imputaciones] against functionaries or public employees for actions conducted in the performance of their duties[,] do not constitute a crime or a fault…The activity of the means of social communication is of public interest and in no case may they be expropriated. They may not be closed, attached [embargados], interfered with, confiscated, or seized [decomisados], nor may the enterprises, plants, equipment, machinery, and gear [enseres] of the means of communication be interrupted in their functioning, for faults or crimes in the expression of thought. The access to the sources of information is free and no authority may limit this right” (Constitute Project, “Guatemala's Constitution of 1985 with Amendments through 1993” ).
Privacy Rights	History	There are two provisions for privacy protection in the 1985 Guatemalan Constitution. Article 23 grants privacy in the home (vivienda) and Article 24 protects correspondence and other documents (Constitute Project, “Guatemala 1985 rev. 1993” ). https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Guatemala_ 1993? lang=en
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	Under Chapter II, any citizen, by definition over 18 years of age, has the freedom of suffrage. Citizens may cast secret ballots to elect the Congress of the Republic, President, and Vice-President. (Consitute Project, “Guatemala’s Constitution of 1985 with Amendments through 1993” ).