This Thursday, leading Children's Rights advocate Bruce Harris, the Director of Casa Alianza, faces a trial in a Guatemalan criminal court for comments he made regarding the illegal adoption and trafficking of Central American babies and infants in Guatemala. In speaking the truth, Harris apparently insulted a woman who was formally implicated in the selling of babies by the Guatemalan attorney general. The woman happens to be the former wife of a powerful judge in that country.

An excerpt from the original press release:

"The 12th Criminal Court of Guatemala has set January 20th as the date for Bruce Harris, Casa Alianza's Regional Director for Latin American programs, to go on trial for defamation. Harris faces up to five years in jail for having spoken out about the involvement of lawyers and notaries in questionable activities in Guatemala's lucrative international adoption business.

Harris was a guest of Guatemala's Attorney General, Asisclo Valladares at a September 1997 press conference where they announced the findings of a six-month joint investigation into the illegal trafficking of Guatemalan and Mexican babies who were sent to other countries through international adoptions.

International adoptions from Guatemala cost adoptive parents between US$ 15,000 and US$ 25,000 each and more than 2,300 adoptions were completed in 2001, making babies one of the most successful non-traditional exports from the Central American country. Guatemala, which has no law to regulate adoptions, exports more babies per capita through international adoptions than any other country in the world. Umana is also a legal advisor to an orphanage run by an American woman from where many international adoptions take place.

A few days after the 1997 press conference, Umana de Luarca slapped a defamation suit against Harris, accusing him of defamation, perjury and slander. She did not sue the Attorney General, who's office had to investigate questionable adoptions."

(Click here for the entire press release)

How You Can Help
You can be part of International pressure that sways the Court's decsion. Harris has challenged the decision to try him in criminal court. To help, please do one of the following:

• Contact your Congressman by clicking here:
  
• Contact the Guatemalan Embassy in Washington
  
  

Bruce is a dedicated Human Rights activist and perhaps the most vocal and effective children's rights advicate in the world. In 2000, Bruce and Casa Alianza were honored with the Hilton Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award. He is featured in my documentary about street children in Nicaragua and Honduras, and has been profiled by Kerry Kennedy Cuomo in her book on Human Rights activists Speak Truth to Power. Finally, Bruce is a good friend. Please le me know if there are additional ways you can help us keep Bruce from what is effectively an illegal prosecution (email me at charliecrystle@yahoo.com.

Thank you!