In response to the murder of Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, we demand a Central America where human rights are respected.

The cowardly murder of Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa on October 17th in Guatemala City is news that fills us with pain and indignation, not only because of the void he leaves in his loved ones, but also because of what it implies for the public life of Central American countries.

Juan Francisco's career was dedicated to human rights advocacy, practicing law in public office, fighting corruption, and representing grassroots initiatives. Throughout his life, his voice resonated widely, denouncing Central America as plagued by all types of crime (white-collar, organized, common, and systemic).

Just as with the disappearance of his grandmother, Alaíde Foppa, a feminist pioneer (which occurred in 1980) and of his uncles, Mario and Juan Pablo Solórzano Foppa, social activists; in the horrendous crime committed against Juan Francisco, one can see the continuity over time of the practices that seek to intimidate and silence, as well as to impose authoritarian control and impunity for the powerful groups that today we call the “pact of corrupt individuals”.

We honor his legacy and that of his family, to whom we express our condolences today. We share his yearning for a different Guatemala and a different Central America, capable of building its own future with peace and dignity.

We demand the prompt clarification of this crime and its possible connection to his work defending human rights, while also demanding the vindication of Juan Francisco's memory as a tireless social fighter.

Central America, October 19, 2026
CLACSO Working Group Violence in Central America

This text expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Groups and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.