Please take a minute today to send an email or fax to United Nations officials expressing yoursupport for the crucial work of the International Commission against Impunityin Guatemala (CICIG) [see sample letter].

On June 6, Carlos Castresanaresigned as Commissioner of the UN-sponsored CICIG. In his resignation speeches, Castresana noted that he andthe CICIG have been subject to intimidation and smear campaigns. Castresana also asked the government toremove Guatemala's new Attorney General Conrado Reyes. The new head of the Public Prosecutor'sOffice has already made changes that could jeopardize advances in high-profilecases. Transitions in the PublicProsecutor's Office could also negatively affect the genocide cases and otherhigh-profile human rights cases.

The CICIG's ongoingefforts to dismantle clandestine groups and contribute to high-profileinvestigations and prosecutions are extremely valuable in this moment. Please take a minute to express yourconcern and support.

Please send messagesexpressing support for the CICIG, asking the United Nations to ensure that theadvances of the CICIG continue, and calling for the protection of CICIGemployees and human rights defenders during this crucial time.

*Send to: * Honorable Sir Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General of theUnited Nations United Nations Room S-3800 760 United NationsPlaza, New York, NY 10017 Tel. 001(212) 963-1234 gaitanis@un.org

Honorable Sir B. Lynn Pascoe Under-Secretary-Generalfor Political Affairs United Nations Room S3770A 760 United NationsPlaza, New York, NY 10017 Tel. 1 (212) 963-7094 pascoebl@un.org copiar a: felli@un.org

Honorable Sir Oscar Fernández-Taranco AssistantSecretary-General for Political Affairs United Nations fernandez-taranco@un.org copiar a: davisc@un.org Room S3770B 760 United NationsPlaza, New York, NY 10017 Tel. 001 (212) 963-9606

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Dear _________________,

I write to you today toexpress my deep concern in the wake of the June 6, 2010 resignation of CarlosCastresana as the Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunityin Guatemala (CICIG).

Castresana's resignationfollows the appointment of the new Attorney General of the Republic ofGuatemala, Conrado Reyes. TheGuatemalan government, and the new Attorney General in particular, hasdemonstrated a lack the political will to follow through on commitments toaddress rampant impunity in the country.

Under Castresana'sleadership, the CICIG managed to advance numerous sensitive cases in Guatemala,where the overall impunity rate is 98%. I hope that the United Nations will ensure that the crucial work of theCICIG continue in spite of the coming change in leadership.

I ask that the UnitedNations appoint a qualified replacement for Castresana as quickly as possiblein order to guarantee that the advances of the CICIG continue under the newCommissioner. Castresana's highprofile successor would ideally demonstrate a strong commitment to the struggleagainst impunity, as well as specific expertise in investigating andprosecuting clandestine groups. Ialso hope that the Guatemalan civil society organizations that provided supportand input during the creation of the CICIG will be included in the appointmentprocess.

Given the risks assumedby the CICIG's personnel, I ask that the United Nations provide extraprotection measures for the national and international employees that willadvance the work of the CICIG during this time of transition.

In addition to CICIGemployees, Guatemalan human rights defenders that have long advocated forjustice are also made vulnerable by these recent institutional changes. I ask that the United Nations considerthe security of human rights defenders as the decision-making process movesforward.

Thank you for your timeand attention in this matter.

Sincerely,