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UN calls for investigation into Porras
United Nations-appointed human rights experts have urged Guatemalan authorities to launch an inquiry into Attorney General Consuelo Porras over her alleged role in the illegal adoption of indigenous children during the country's civil war. Porras has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated.
Allegations date back to 1982
The experts claim Porras served as director of Hogar Temporal Elisa Martínez, a children's home, for seven months in 1982, while also acting as legal guardian for the minors there. During this period, at least 80 indigenous children from the facility were reportedly sent abroad for adoption under questionable circumstances.
The statement links these adoptions to a broader pattern of enforced disappearances and coercive practices targeting Guatemala's Maya population between 1968 and 1996, when the civil war raged.
Pattern of abuse during civil war
Guatemala's 36-year conflict saw military governments frequently target indigenous communities, accusing them of supporting leftist guerrillas. While some children's homes provided refuge for orphans, others allegedly exploited vulnerable families-either through deception or outright force-to facilitate lucrative international adoptions.
The UN experts outlined how such schemes often involved falsified documents, coerced parental consent, and financial kickbacks for intermediaries.
Porras denies wrongdoing, faces prior scrutiny
Porras has vehemently rejected the allegations, calling them "false" and part of a political smear campaign. Her office echoed this stance, labeling the claims "baseless" and "malicious" in a statement to AFP.
The controversy arrives as Porras seeks re-election for a third term as attorney general and vies for a seat on Guatemala's Constitutional Court. Her bid for the court was rejected Monday after failing to secure sufficient support from the Bar Association.
Her tenure has drawn international criticism before. In 2024, her office faced accusations of attempting to block President Bernardo Arévalo's inauguration following his anti-corruption victory. The U.S. also sanctioned Porras in 2022, barring her entry over alleged corruption, which she denies.
Experts decry lack of accountability
The UN experts expressed alarm that no independent investigation has been conducted into the alleged involvement of state officials in illegal adoptions. They stressed the need for a "prompt, thorough, and impartial" inquiry to address the claims.
