Human Rights Elusive in Guatemala
Official willingness to advance human rights in Guatemala in accordance with the peace agreement is poor, concluded UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guatemala Anders Kompass.

Kompass recalled that along with El Salvador, Guatemala suffered bloody armed conflicts, but does not evince interest in implementing the 1992 and 1996 peace accords.

The Swedish diplomat said the weakness of local democratic institutions, especially the police and legal systems, lie at the core of the problem.

The adverse human right situation is added to poor social investments and the absence of an official economic and health program, plus the lack of opportunities for youth.

"The worst danger for a country is having a massive number of youth and teenagers without a future."

"We have just seen it in Paris (the recent protests in poor areas of the French capital," he added and recalled the "youth gangs or maras that plague the masses require great work.

Kompass called the evolution of human rights in Guatemala one year past the US Peace Mission exit "precarious and worrying". He added that "the situation may grow worse."

The UN official also listed among the social maladies: discrimination against the indigenous populations and women, unemployment and social exclusion of the poor.

He also lashed out at the impotence in dealing with crime and social pressures due to official fear of the political cost and implications for international credibility.