Weekly Report - 23 May 2013 (WR-13-20)

GUATEMALA | Ríos Montt conviction overturned. Guatemala’s constitutional court (CC) has overturned the historic conviction and sentencing of former dictator, Efraín Ríos Montt (1982-1983) for genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the 1960-1996 civil war. On 20 May the CC ruled by three to two to overturn the 10 May decision and ordered the trial to be set back to where it was on 19 April (when it was suspended for procedural issues) [WR-13-18], on the grounds that various legal challenges presented by the defence awaited resolution.