- The presentation of Naomi Roht-Arriaza’s book prompted a discussion on victims’ rights, reparations, and the use of regional and transnational approaches to combat corruption.
Naomi Roht-Arriaza, Julio Flores, and Yonni Aguilar take part in a panel discussion moderated by DPLF Executive Director Katya Salazar during the event “Corruption, Human Rights, and Regional Approaches: Challenges for Guatemala.” Photo: National Commission Against Corruption (CNC).
The Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF) and the National Commission Against Corruption (CNC) held an event today titled “Corruption, Human Rights, and Regional Approaches: Challenges for Guatemala.” The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of grand corruption and the importance of developing responses tailored to Guatemala’s context from a human rights perspective.
The event included a presentation of Fighting Grand Corruption: Transnational and Human Rights Approaches in Latin America and Beyond by its author, Naomi Roht-Arriaza. An internationally recognized lawyer whose work focuses on transitional justice and international human rights law, Roht-Arriaza is a professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
The book examines how grand corruption violates rights, weakens democratic institutions, and causes harm that affects individuals and communities in different ways. It also explores experiences from Latin America and other regions aimed at strengthening victims’ participation, promoting reparations, and expanding the tools available to confront transnational corruption networks.
During her presentation, Roht-Arriaza emphasized the importance of complementing criminal investigations and prosecutions with mechanisms to identify the harm caused by corruption and recognize affected individuals and communities as rights holders. She also discussed experiences and proposals aimed at improving accountability, asset recovery, and redress for the social and institutional consequences of these crimes.
A panel discussion followed, featuring Naomi Roht-Arriaza; Julio Flores, a CNC commissioner; and Yonni Aguilar, coordinator of the Observatorio de Derechos Humanos y el Gasto Social del Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos. Katya Salazar, DPLF’s executive director, moderated the discussion.
The panelists discussed the challenges Guatemala faces in dismantling grand corruption networks, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring that government responses reflect victims’ needs and perspectives. They also considered the value of transnational and regional approaches to corruption schemes that span multiple jurisdictions and may involve political, economic, and criminal networks.
The discussion examined the opportunities and limitations of Guatemala’s legal and institutional framework for supporting victims’ participation, recovering property and assets, providing reparations, and fostering international cooperation. Participants also emphasized the importance of comprehensive responses that help reduce impunity, restore public trust, and protect the rights affected by corruption.
“Through this event, we seek to promote an inclusive dialogue among public institutions, academia, and civil society to understand the concrete impacts of grand corruption and contribute to developing responses tailored to Guatemala’s reality,” said DPLF’s Katya Salazar.
Watch the recording of the event: (Spanish audio only)
Photo credits: National Commission Against Corruption
