Country Expert Witness on Guatemala and Latin America & the Caribbean Countries for Asylum Cases Providing Expert Witness Reports, Evidence and Country Expert Testimonies for Asylum and Human Rights Cases

Hello, dear colleagues!
This article is primarily written for law firms representing asylum applicants from Guatemala and other countries in Latin America & the Caribbean, although it may also be useful for applicants themselves.
My name is Maxim Kharitonov, and I am the founder of The Human Rights, an international agency of expert witnesses specializing in expert reports for asylum seekers worldwide (website: thehuman-rights.com).

We provide expert witness reports on human rights violations, political persecution, and asylum-related risks across key regions, including:

• Post-Soviet Region (CIS): Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia.
• East Africa: Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda.
• South & Central Asia: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan.
• Middle East: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia.
• Western Balkans: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Latin America & the Caribbean: Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil.
• East Asia: China, North Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Myanmar.

In this article, I will explain how our team approaches the analysis of the situation in Guatemala and other Latin America & Caribbean countries, highlight key issues related to human rights violations, and discuss why an expert witness report plays a crucial role in asylum cases.

What is an Expert Witness Report?
As you may know, an expert witness report is an independent analytical document used to substantiate facts, justify risks, and assess the situation in the applicant’s country of origin.
Its purpose is to demonstrate that the applicant faces a real threat of persecution and cannot return to Guatemala or another Latin America & Caribbean country due to the risks involved. The report serves as witness testimony in the asylum case, providing expert insight into the situation in the applicant’s country of origin.

Why is an Expert Witness Report Essential?
An expert witness report is crucial at every stage of the asylum process:

• At the application stage: It helps establish the applicant's personal risks and their connection to the general situation in Guatemala or another Latin America & Caribbean country.
• At the appeal stage: If the application has been denied, the report can be used for a detailed analysis of the immigration authority’s decision, identifying errors, and providing additional evidence.

Key Functions of an Expert Witness Report
1. Contextual Analysis
An expert witness report confirms the broader situation in Guatemala and other Latin America & Caribbean countries, including political instability, repression, and conflict, citing both international and local sources.

2. Personal Risk Assessment
The report demonstrates the connection between the applicant’s individual threats and the conditions in their country. Whether it’s due to their political views, ethnicity, religion, or gender, the report will explain why they are personally at risk in Guatemala or another Latin America & Caribbean country.

3. Strengthening the Evidence Base
An expert witness report verifies that the applicant belongs to a vulnerable group facing persecution. Vulnerable groups can include ethnic or religious minorities, journalists, political activists, and women, particularly in countries like Guatemala, where these groups may face targeted violence.

4. Support with Credible Sources
The report references authoritative organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, and others. All sources are formatted according to the OSCOLA citation standard.

Country Expert Witness on Guatemala and Latin America & Caribbean Countries
At The Human Rights, we specialize in preparing expert witness reports for asylum applicants from Guatemala and other countries in the Latin America & Caribbean region. Our reports are tailored to asylum cases in the UK, USA, Canada, and the EU, ensuring compliance with immigration law standards and expert witness requirements.

We provide in-depth analysis on the human rights situation in Guatemala and other Latin America & Caribbean countries, addressing issues such as:

• Violence and Organized Crime: Guatemala faces significant violence from organized criminal groups, particularly drug cartels, which often engage in extortion, kidnapping, and violence against citizens, journalists, and public figures. Asylum applicants in Guatemala who speak out against criminal organizations or engage in political activism may be at a heightened risk of violence.
• Corruption and Impunity: Guatemala has a long-standing problem with corruption, with officials often complicit in or indifferent to organized crime and violence. Those who try to expose corruption, particularly journalists, human rights defenders, and activists, are often targeted. The lack of effective justice and impunity for these crimes further exacerbates the risks for individuals seeking to challenge the system.
• Human Rights Violations and Forced Disappearances: Guatemala has a history of forced disappearances, particularly related to the civil war period and the continuing effects of state repression. The failure of the government to address these issues means that individuals at risk of targeted violence still have no reliable recourse to justice or protection.
• Gender-Based Violence: Women in Guatemala, particularly indigenous women, are vulnerable to high levels of domestic violence, femicide, and sexual violence. These crimes are often underreported, and there is a lack of legal protection or enforcement of laws meant to protect women. Asylum applicants from Guatemala may be at risk due to their gender or participation in feminist activism.
• Indigenous Rights: Guatemala’s indigenous population, particularly the Maya, faces discrimination, land dispossession, and violent repression when they resist the encroachment on their ancestral lands. Indigenous leaders and activists are frequently targeted for their efforts to defend their rights, facing violence and even death at the hands of both state and non-state actors.
• LGBTQ+ Rights: While homosexuality is legal in Guatemala, LGBTQ+ individuals face significant societal discrimination and violence, particularly from religious groups and conservative sectors of society. Those involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy or who are openly LGBTQ+ may face persecution, harassment, and violence.

Why Choose Our Expert Witness Reports?
Collective Expertise & Verification
Our reports are prepared by regional country experts, researchers, and legal analysts, ensuring accuracy and depth. Every report undergoes fact-checking and validation by our senior experts before submission.

Court-Tested Reports & Expert Testimony
Our experts are available to testify in court, reinforcing the credibility of the asylum applicant’s case. We follow the highest standards of expert witness reporting, including OSCOLA citation formatting and references to leading human rights organizations (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, etc.).

Customized Reports for Each Case
We tailor each report to the specific applicant’s circumstances, linking their personal risks to the broader situation in their country of origin.

Strong Track Record of Success
Our reports have played a key role in successful asylum applications and appeals, helping individuals prove their risk of persecution.