| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Congreso de la República
|
| Date of creation |
01.03.2004 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
Concept and aims (Art. 1): the Human Rights Committee of the Congress of the Republic is a multifunctional body whose role is to promote the study and updating of national human rights legislation, particularly by looking into laws, conventions, treaties, provisions and recommendations concerning the protection, dissemination, promotion and validity of fundamental human rights, physical and mental well being, and improvement of the quality of life, as well as the promotion of the common good and peaceful coexistence in Guatemala.
Powers (Art. 4): the Committee has the following powers:
a. To propose, to the Congress plenary, within 60 days following the setting-up of the Committee, a list of three candidates for the post of Human Rights Prosecutor. If for any reason the post becomes vacant, the time allotted to make proposals for a substitute must not exceed ten days.
b. To carry out studies on existing legislation, with a view to proposing draft legislation to the Congress plenary aimed at aligning existing legislation with constitutional precepts relating to human rights and with the international treaties and conventions that have been adopted and ratified by Guatemala.
c. To prepare an annual work plan that includes studies, seminars and technical and scientific research on human rights; and to participate in national and international events on this theme, on behalf of the Congress of the Republic.
d. To express opinions and judgements on international treaties and conventions in the human rights field, briefing the Congress Plenary and the Human Rights Prosecutor on matters taken up.
e. To act as a link between the Human Rights Prosecutor and the Congress Plenary, transmitting reports and information which the said official has prepared for Congress; the Committee is empowered to comment separately on reports drafted by the Prosecutor.
f. To draft recommendations to State bodies urging them to take action to promote human rights and to request the respective reports.
g. To maintain ongoing contacts with international bodies for the protection of human rights for purposes of consultation and exchange of information.
h. To propose to the Congress Plenary the removal of the Human Rights Prosecutor if any of the grounds laid down in the Constitution or in law apply.
i. To perform all duties that fall within its purview, including monitoring of compliance by the administration with legal norms relating to human rights.
j. To examine communications and complaints from outside the country forwarded by persons or institutions to the Congress of the Republic, which denounce human rights violations in Guatemala. |
| Membership |
Membership (Art. 2): the Committee shall include one MP from each of the political parties represented in Congress, during the corresponding legislative term.
Election (Art. 3): every year between the 15th and 30th of January, the Congress of the Republic shall elect and duly empower the Committee. The members of the said body shall be elected at the proposal of the MPs from the respective political parties.
Resignation from the Committee (Art. 6): in the event of the justified resignation or definite absence of Committee members, the Congress shall appoint a substitute who must belong to the same political party.
Resignation from a political party (Art. 7): in the event that a Committee Member resigns from his or her political party when he or she has been designated, a new member must be designated so that the political party continues to be represented on the Committee. |
| Working methods |
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
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| Relations with external bodies |
Budget (Art. 5) |
| Subjects dealt with |
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| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Congreso de la Republica
9a Av. 944, Zona 1
GUATEMALA CITY (Guatemala) |
| Phone |
(+502) 2510328 |
| Fax |
(+502) 2510328 |
| E-mail |
... |
| Website |
http://www.congreso.gob.gt/
|
|
|
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Myrna Ponce |
| Notes |
Chairperson |
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Mr. Mauricio Nolie León Corado |
| Notes |
Member |
| Name |
Mr. Edgar Alfredo Rodriguez |
| Notes |
Member |
| Address (if different from above) |
Congreso de la Republica
9a Av. 944, Zona 1
GUATEMALA CITY (Guatemala) |
| Phone |
(+502) 2510328 |
| Fax |
(+502) 2510328 |
| E-mail |
... |
| web site: |
http://www.congreso.gob.gt/
|
| Notes |
|
|
