I was greatly moved by the courage of those Guatemalan lawyers, judges and human rights activists that I met who have dedicated themselves to furthering justice in Guatemala at the price of their personal safety. There can be no doubt that the danger posed to them is very real, and many of those whom I met live in constant fear.

As a result of our contact with Guatemala, many organisations are aware of LRWC and the type of work we do. The Guatemalans I met with think that LRWC’s presence in Guatemala is important and timely. The fact that we are a group specifically concerned with the rights of legal professionals, (not to mention the fact that we are Canadian) places us in a position which gives us immediate credibility and respect. It will be up to us through our ongoing support and follow-up activities to earn that respect.

Respectfully submitted,

August, 2001

James Tate