At the capital's National Palace of Culture, executive director of the Peace and Human Rights Commission Ramiro Contreras, without President Alejandro Giammattei present, stressed that the issue was a priority.
Achieving peace requires the efforts of the people as well as government action through genuine, transparent and efficient interventions in pursuit of this goal, the official explained.
He said that the institution under his authority, which reports to the Presidency, has been active for three years and during this time it has transparently promoted the consolidation of democracy, justice and respect for human rights.
Among the various measures developed, he mentioned the creation of 17 regional headquarters at the national level, while emphasizing the effective and historic defense of the State of Guatemala.
He highlighted the implementation of the Ambassadors of Peace program, an initiative that recognizes the work and actions promoted by executive agencies and other social actors within their institutional powers to promote a culture of peace and dialogue.
The change of the Rose of Peace was carried out by the General Commander of the Volunteer Fire Department, Giovanni Cordón; and Presidential Commissioner for Religious Freedom, Robín Agustín García.
Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Alejandro Córdova, stressed in a statement this morning that the substantive problems that the agreements were intended to resolve still remain.
Political analysts agreed that the country's current government has done the opposite by building a culture of peace.
“It was all corruption, violence, an increase in evictions across the country, political repression and attacks on human rights defenders,” said Human Rights Defenders Unit Coordinator of Guatemala Jorge Santos.
Twelve agreements ended the conflict, the last, that of firm and lasting peace, was signed on December 29, 1996 by the four commanders of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit as well as the then President Álvaro Arzú (1996-2000).
The National Palace itself would be the venue where ten heads of state and government and another two thousand guests and delegates from various fields would be present.
Lam/Znc