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Guatemala

Guatemala is the most-populous country in Central America. Its capital and largest city is Guatemala City.

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All Content on this topic

Erwin Sperisen archive photo

Swiss convict Guatemala top cop

A Swiss court has condemned Guatemala's former police chief to a life sentence in connection with the murders of seven prisoners. Erwin Sperisen fled his homeland for Switzerland in 2007.
June 7, 2014
Members of the ONIJ youth orchestra in Guatemala

Integration through music

A youth orchestra in Guatemala aims to address the country's ethnic and social divisions.
March 28, 2014
a Antigua, the former capital of the Spanish colony in the highlands: seen from above

Art and culture in Guatemala

Ancient cities and impressive natural beauty provide inspiration for natives and visitors alike. José Samuel takes us on a journey through Guatemala.
November 7, 2013
Rainforest panorama in El Peten, with ancient temples in view (Photo: Helle Jeppesen for DW)

Eco-friendly Guatemala

Examples of sustainable farming in rainforest regions can be found in parts of Central America.
October 27, 2013
A child from Guatemala, carries a baby on its back. (© Ariane Citron)

Combating hunger

Guatemala has one of the highest child malnutrition rates. A lack of food isn't the only problem.
October 18, 2013

Ending child malnutrition in Guatemala

Guatemala not only faces high crime rates and poverty levels, and high levels of child malnourishment. Almost one in every two Guatemalan children under five years old is suffering from chronic malnutrition. A delegation from the European Union, visited the Central-American country earlier this month on a mission to support food aid.
BusinessOctober 16, 201307:23 min
A man carries guano palm leaves on his head in Carmelito, Guatemala. (Photo: Helle Jeppesen)

Saving forests

A sustainable forestry concept in Guatemala that ropes in local groups is helping to save forests.
October 15, 2013
Members of the public prosecutor's office and rescuers work on the site of a bus accident on September 9, 2013 in the municipality of San Martin Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango Departament, about 65 km west Guatemala City. A bus carrying scores of passengers plunged down a steep cliff in western Guatemala killing at least 43 people and injuring 40 others, firefighters said. AFP PHOTO / Johan ORDONEZ (Photo credit should read JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Guatemala bus crash kills 43

At least 43 people have been killed and dozens injured after a bus plunged off a steep cliff in western Guatemala. Survivors told local media the bus had been overcrowded.
September 10, 2013
Former Guatemalan president Alfonso Portillo (C), accused of corruption, is escorted before boarding a plane for his extradition to the United States (Photo via Reuters)

Guatemala expels ex-president

Ex-Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo has been extradited to the United States to face money laundering charges. The ailing former leader is accused of laundering $70 million in Guatemalan funds through US banks.
May 24, 2013
Pamela Yates in her studio in New York, USA (Photo: Dana Lixemburg) via: DW/Andre Leslie "Skylight Pictures allows DW.DE to use and reuse the photos on their DW.DE website, as long as the photos are used in relation Pamela Yates, Paco de Onís, Peter Kinoy and/or to Skylight's work."

Documenting Rios Montt

Filmmaker Pamela Yates has been following the trial of Efrain Rios Montt closer than anyone else.
May 22, 2013
Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt attends the second day since his trial for genocide charges restarted at the Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala City, May 2, 2013. The trial has been up in the air after judges squabbled over who should hear the case following an order to annul nearly 18 months of proceedings. Rios Montt, 86, is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for a counterinsurgency plan conceived under his 1982-1983 rule that killed 1,771 members of the Ixil indigenous group in one of the bloodiest phases of Guatemala's civil war. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez (GUATEMALA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)

Genocide conviction overturned

Guatemala's top court has overturned a genocide conviction against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt and ordered his trial restart to solve several appeal issues. The ruling comes 10 days after his landmark conviction.
May 21, 2013
Pamela Yates attends the trial of Guatemalan former General Jose Efrain Rios Montt over the alleged killing of 1,771 Ixil natives between 1982 and 1983, at the Supreme Court of Guatemala, April 2013.

Documentary film-maker helps Guatemala

Former dictator Efrain Rios Montt was convicted partly due to the work of filmmaker Pamela Yates, who has spent 30 years covering the military dictatorship in Guatamala.
May 18, 201307:58 min
Former Guatemalan de facto President, retired General Jose Efrain Rios Montt gestures during his trial on charges of genocide during his 1982-83 rule. (Photo: Johan Ordonex/AFP/Getty Images)

Rios Montt guilty of genocide

A former Guatemalan dictator has been found guilty of genocide and sentenced to 80 years in prison. The charges stem from the bloodiest period of the country's 36-year civil war.
May 11, 2013
Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt. Photo: REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez.

Guatemala genocide case

The judgment is due in a landmark human rights trial in Guatemala. For the first time, a former military dictator in Latin America has been charged with genocide in his own country.
May 10, 2013
epa03611537 A handout picture provided by Presidency of Guatemala shows Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina speaking in Guatemala City, Guatemala, 05 March 2013. Perez Molina said he has a 'feeling of sadness' over the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. EPA/PRESIDENCY OF GUATEMALA / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Mining battle

A state of siege has been declared in Guatemala following an ongoing dispute over a silver mine.
May 3, 2013
Former dictator Efrain Rios Montt. Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Guatemala war crimes trial

The first ever domestic, war crimes trial of an ex-head of state has started in Guatemala. Former army general and dictator Efrain Rios Montt is in court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
March 19, 2013
Former Guatemalan de facto President (1982-1983) and retired General, Jose Efrain Rios Montt, is seen during a court hearing in Guatemala City (Photo: ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Guatemala genocide trial

A court in Guatemala has ordered that a former dictator should stand trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. Jose Efrain Rios Montt allegedly orchestrated a campaign of murder against indigenous people.
January 29, 2013
Mayan glyphs related to the text on the end of the world

End of suffering?

DW looks at the significance of December 21 for Mayans in Guatemala.
December 19, 2012
U.S. anti-virus software guru John McAfee uses a computer in a migrant shelter, where he is detained in Guatemala City, December 6, 2012. Guatemalan police arrested McAfee on Wednesday for illegally entering the country and said it would expel him to neighboring Belize, which he fled after being sought for questioning over his neighbor's murder. REUTERS/Human Rights Attorney/Handout (GUATEMALA - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

McAfee saga reaches Miami

The eccentric techie, John McAfee has been deported to the United States. The software developer is wanted for questioning in Belize in connection with a homicide.
December 13, 2012
Residents walk among rubble after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck in San Marcos, Guatemala, Wednesday Nov. 7, 2012. (Foto:Moises Castillo/AP/dapd).

Deadly quake hits Guatemala

An earthquake has struck off the coast of Guatemala, killing 48 people. The temblor caused evacuations as far north as Mexico City and a tsunami alert down south in El Salvador.
November 7, 2012
People around the world annually march for the rights of gays, lesbians, transgender and transsexual individuals - such as here in Brazil Copyright: Andre Penner / AP / dapd (Foto:Andre Penner/AP/dapd).

Transgender rights

Fearful of attacks in Guatemala, two transgender people are fighting for asylum in Denmark.
October 4, 2012
In this image taken with a cell phone, plumes of smoke rise from the Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire as seen from Palin, south of Guatemala City, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Image: AP)

Guatemalans flee volcano

A major volcanic eruption in Guatemala has triggered evacuations. The head of emergency response said that more than 30,000 people from 17 outlying villages were fleeing the Fuego volcano.
September 14, 2012
ürgen Katt stands next to a garbage truck

Dump trucks to the rescue

Disused dump trucks from Germany are given a new life by helping clean up a lake in Guatemala.
September 4, 2012

Building walls with waste

Redefining recycling - in Guatemala, bottles and waste are being used as building material.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 4, 2012
A garbage truck at work on the streets of Guatemala +++Atitlan e.v./Jürgen Katt+++ -------------------------------------------------------- Jürgen Katt vom Atitlan e.V. begann 1990 ausrangierte, deutsche Müllwagen nach Guatemala zu bringen, um dort ein Müllentsorgungssystem aufzubauen. Atitlan e.V. setzt sich für den Schutz des Atitlansee ein. Weite Infos: http://www.atitlan-ev.de/

Homes made of waste in Guatemala

August 28, 2012
A solider fires a machine toward rebel positions in Caloto, southern Colombia

Violence in Latin America

Violence in Latin America is ubiquitous. Is this a legacy of the region's past?
April 27, 2012
ARCHIV - Dichter Atlantischer Regenwald, aufgenommen auf der Ilha do Cardoso im Bundesstaat Sao Paulo (Archivfoto vom 05.01.2006). Nach monatelangem Tauziehen und erbitterter Debatte hat das Abgeordnetenhaus in der Hauptstadt Brasília den Weg frei gemacht für eine Aufweichung des Waldschutzes. Die Parlamentarier stimmten einem Änderungsentwurf des sogenannten «Código Florestal» mehrheitlich zu und stellten sich damit demonstrativ gegen Präsidentin Rousseff. Foto: Ralf Hirschberger dpa (zu dpa «Persilschein für Kettensägen - Brasilien lockert Regenwald-Schutz» vom 26.04.2012) +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Protecting trees

Farmers in Guatemala start to protect the rainforest in return for land use rights.
November 8, 2011
The Guatemalan rainforest

Vanishing green cover

Guatemala's forests are at serious risk. Now illegal logging is to be consigned to the past.
November 8, 2011

Guatemala: Training and consulting for Canal Antigua

Guatemala's Canal Antigua has close ties to Deutsche Welle. Experts from DW Akademie recently traveled to the partner station in Guatemala City to conduct training and provide consulting.
August 5, 2011
A surgical glove lies on a puddle of bloodied water

Southern expansion

Mexican drug cartels look to exploit social problems in Central America to expand operations.
May 9, 2011

12th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Guatemala City

This year, it was Latin America’s turn to host the international biennial Anti-corruption Conference.
November 19, 2006

Venezuela/ Guatemala

It is race between Guatemala and Venezuela. Which of these two countries is going to be elected to Latin America's temporary seat on the UN Security Council?
October 17, 2006

Amnesty Report Damns Global Powers

Amnesty International's 2005 Report, published Wednesday, condemns 149 countries including Germany and the United States for differing policies that it claims constitute abuses of human rights.
May 25, 2005

Boosting Latin American Ties

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer flew to New York Sunday at the start of an Americas trip focusing on Berlin's efforts to improve ties with Latin America and gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
November 14, 2004