Guatemalan

Michigan Jury Awards Over $500,000 to Guatemalan Workers After Labor Exploitation Claims

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A jury has awarded over $500,000 to five Guatemalan men who reported instances of exploitation and inadequate compensation while working under a labor contractor in Michigan, where they were responsible for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. The substantial verdict, delivered last week, includes $450,000 designated as punitive damages against Purpose Point Harvesting, a contractor accused of breaching antitrafficking legislation. During the trial in U.S. District Court, the men provided testimony in Spanish, which was interpreted for the jury. They recounted their experiences from 2017 to 2019, working long hours and … Read more

From Prison to Prestige: Guatemalan Prosecutor Wins Global Human Rights Award After Battling Corruption and Facing Persecution

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London, UK – In a significant acknowledgment of her relentless fight against corruption under perilous conditions, Virginia Laparra Rivas, once a prosecutor in Guatemala, was honored with the prestigious Sir Henry Brooke Award for 2025. The ceremony, organized by the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk, took place here last night, celebrating her exceptional commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Virginia Laparra Rivas initially took the helm of the Special Prosecutors Office Against Impunity in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala’s second-largest city, in 2016. During her tenure, she spearheaded a crucial investigation into a corruption case … Read more