Externship Placements (English-Spanish)
Guatemala City (Summer 2012 Only; Must Participate in Inter-American Antigua Program)
ASÍES is comprised of members, including prominent human rights figures in Guatemala, who come from a variety of backgrounds and professions and who have come together to promote the development of a democratic society dedicated to concepts of justice, liberty, peace and solidarity.
ASÍES functions like a think-tank in the U.S. and publishes studies on a variety of subjects. It also creates legislative proposals to be considered for passage by the Guatemalan National Congress. Pacific McGeorge externs are assigned to work on specific projects under the direction of an in-house attorney.
CAFTA-DR Environmental Issues Secretariat (Secretaría de Asuntos Ambientales, CAFTA-DR)
The Secretariat for Environmental Matters (SEM) is an international organization that was created within the framework of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) where, for the first time in the region, a free trade agreement included a chapter on the environment (Chapter 17). In this regard, the SEM was established to take charge of the functions set forth in CAFTA-DR articles 17.7 and 17.8. Specifically, the Secretariat receives and processes complaints from civil society involving non-compliance with its domestic environmental laws in the context of trade and foreign investment. To date, the Secretariat is handling seven complaints, including two from Guatemala involving violations to protected forests and parks of Guatemala.
Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT) (Asociación Guatemalteca de Exportadores)
AGEXPORT is a private non-profit entity that represents, promotes and develops non-traditional exports from Guatemalan companies. It provides high-level assistance services to the exporters, serving the business community at-large in international trade activities and investments.
In addition, AGEXPORT participates in trade negotiations and designs strategies and action plans related to taxes, labor and environmental issues affecting its members. Pacific McGeorge externs are assigned to work on specific projects under the direction of an in-house attorney.
Human Rights Ombudsman, Access to Information Unit
The Human Rights Ombudsman is an independent government entity whose function is to oversee governmental compliance with human rights norms. In 2008, the Government of Guatemala enacted its first access to information law and charged the Human Rights Ombudsman with its implementation. The Access to Information Unit oversees compliance with the legislation by various governmental organs and conducts training.
Lawyers Without Borders Guatemala (Abogados sin Fronteras, Guatemala)
The Canadian-based NGO, Lawyers without Borders, was founded in 2002 by a group of lawyers from Quebec, whose mission it is to provide support to vulnerable populations and legal activists who are seeking justice though legal mechanisms. In Guatemala, lawyers without borders Canada is supporting the work of key human rights organizations working on emblematic wartime cases with the goal of ending impunity for the gross human rights violations committed in the country during its 36 year civil war. The organization provides technical legal support and accompaniment to the victim survivors and their representatives and training to Guatemalan human rights lawyers; promotes best practices and strategies for documenting and successfully litigation human rights cases; and creates a network of support for human rights activists.
Madreselva is a membership-based organization established in 1996 to safeguard environmental rights in Guatemala. They work in the following areas: the protection of forests and natural resources, the right to water, oversight over mining and hydroelectric plants, defense of territorial sovereignty, protection of endangered species, and the right to a safe and healthy living. They conduct their work though strategic litigation, policy reform, and community organizing.
MENAMIG promotes the rights of migrants residing in Guatemala. MENAMIG produces studies on the phenomena of inbound and outbound migration affecting the country, and it lobbies for the promotion of better policies toward migrants and repatriates in the country. Pacific McGeorge externs are assigned to work on specific projects under the direction of an in-house attorney either with MENAMIG or one of its partner institutions.
SIECA, Secretariat of Economic Integration of Central America
The SIECA is a regional body whose main responsibility to provide technical and administrative support to the Central American economic integration process known as the Central American Integration System. The SIECA's mission is the integration of the Central American region into a worldwide economy and trade. The SIECA focuses its efforts on the implementation of legal instruments and resolutions pertaining to economic integration, the preparation of technical analysis and studies required by the different economic forums to identify best practices of operation, and to be a liaison among organizations involved in the regional integration process. The SIECA is under the management of the Secretary General who is appointed by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration.