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UNICEF condemns murder of Guatemalan rights figure

"UNICEF has learned with profound shock and sadness of the murder of Monsignor Juan Gerardi Conedera, General Coordinator of the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala, on 26 April 1998, in Guatemala City. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this brutal and cowardly act, which is an offense not only against the Catholic Church and the people of Guatemala, but against people around the world who believe in justice, peace and respect for human rights.

Monsignor Gerardi was loved and respected by the people of Guatemala as a courageous and untiring advocate for peace, justice and equality. Of particular significance was his leadership in compiling the Report "Guatemala Never Again" on human rights violations. His three years of exhaustive work involving community animators trained by the Church, to collect thousands of testimonies of atrocities committed during years of armed conflict in Guatemala, is a service to all people who struggle for a better world. According to the report, many of those who fell victim to the acts of violence committed during those years were children.

UNICEF joins so many others in mourning the senseless murder of Monsignor Gerardi, but we also applaud his bravery and the valuable results of his work. UNICEF is especially saddened by the extensive indications of children's rights violations that the report contains and we will continue to support the efforts of the people of Guatemala in their efforts to build a just and peaceful society which values and protects the rights of each child.

On behalf of all UNICEF staff, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family of Monsignor Girardi, to his colleagues in the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese, to the Catholic Church and the people of Guatemala."

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