The Rios Montt Genocide Trial in Guatemala: National Courts and International Crimes

National Courts and International Crimes

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM EDT

 

The Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and the American Society of International Law Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Interest Group (ASIL)

cordially invite you to attend:

 

The Rios Montt Genocide Trial in Guatemala: National Courts and International Crimes

 

Date: May 14, 4-6 pm

Where: Tillar House, 2223 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC

Presenters: Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey, Attorney General of Guatemala (via skype)

Naomi Roht-Arriaza, University of California, Hastings College of the Law Jo-Marie Burt, George Mason University, WOLA Senior Fellow

Moderator: Katya Salazar, Due Process of Law Foundation

The ongoing trial of Rios Montt represents the first time a national court has tried a former head of state for genocide and war crimes. Guatemala's former dictator Rios Montt and his military intelligence chief, Jose Mauricio Rodriguez, have been on trial since March for the deaths of some 1700 Maya-Ixil people during the 1982-83 period, when Rios Montt was head of state and defense minister, and the army waged a brutal counter-insurgency campaign in the area. The trial has featured hundreds of eyewitnesses, dozens of national and foreign experts, and a dizzying array of procedural twists and turns. A verdict is was handed down on Friday, May 10.

Guatemala's chief prosecutor, Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey, will explain the trial's importance from her perspective, and talk about next steps. Trial observers Naomi Roht-Arriaza and Jo-Marie Burt, both with extensive experience with Latin American human rights-related trials, will discuss the course, outcome and meanings of the trial. In particular, they will explore the lessons learned for national courts dealing with international crimes by still-powerful defendants.

This event will be live-streamed via www.asil.org/live

To RSVP please visit the link: http://www.asil.org/activities_calendar.cfm?action=detail&rec=286

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