The Guatemalan prosecutor’s office seeks to investigate NGOs for alleged child trafficking on the border with the US

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The Guatemalan prosecutor’s office requested collaboration from the Texas prosecutor’s office, in the United States, to investigate alleged trafficking of children on the southern border of that country, allegedly originating from Guatemala, which would involve Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGO), including Save The Children.

The organization dedicated to the care of children, which has been working in Guatemala since 1976, issued a statement on Tuesday indicating that it was aware of the allegations, but that it had no indications related to that issue.

According to the prosecution, there is a “horrifying pattern of disappearance of children from Guatemala” where an alleged network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), operating within the country, would be involved “in the abuse of Guatemalan children” who are far from their parents. parents or someone who protects them.

In its letter last week, the prosecution points out that the organizations that “could be participating in child trafficking operations” would be Save The Childre, Changing The Way We Care, the World Fund for Children, Arise and La Unión del Pueblo Entero. .

The communication, dated April 12 and addressed to the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, is signed by the Secretary General of the Public Ministry of Guatemala, Ángel Pineda. However, the Guatemalan government assured that no request regarding this issue was sent through diplomatic channels to the United States.

“We take with great responsibility the arguments related to the safeguarding of children and inappropriate conduct and we have independent investigation mechanisms to investigate thoroughly,” Save The Children responded in its statement on Tuesday. “We have no evidence to validate these allegations and we continue working hard to provide humanitarian aid to migrant children and adolescents and their families under strict protection and safeguarding standards.”

The organization assured that it does not facilitate the departure of children or adolescents from Guatemala and that its work is to provide humanitarian assistance to those who need it, “including migrant children and their families who cross the southern border of Guatemala.” This support, he indicated, was strictly limited to providing humanitarian assistance in the departments of Jutiapa and Chiquimula.

For its part, the prosecutor’s office stated that the aforementioned organizations are financed with federal funds from American taxpayers. “It has been indicated to me that other (NGOs) operating in Guatemala and Texas could be complicit in child trafficking, who may possibly be supporting this child trafficking and other problems with children and adolescents who travel unaccompanied,” the letter stated. addressed to the Texas prosecutor’s office.

He also reproached that these organizations “have demonstrated that they have not been successful in protecting children in Guatemala.”

Pineda is sanctioned by the US government for undermining Guatamala’s democratic institutions and obstructing the anti-corruption fight. Recently, Canada, Switzerland and the European Union joined the sanctions, prohibiting their entry into their territories.