In an important advance in the fight against corruption, the Attorney General of the Republic and Head of the Public Ministry, Mrs. María Consuelo Porras Argueta, received from the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (Icontec) the certification in accordance with the ISO 37001:2016 Standard, establishing an Anti-Bribery Management System.

She was accompanied by Mr. Erick Eduardo Schaeffer Cabrera, First Deputy Secretary General; Mr. Estuardo Ávila Vásquez, Anti-Corruption Secretary; Aura Marina Maldonado Batres, General Manager and Legal Representative of the Icontec Guatemala branch; and Mónica Saraí Soto Pivaral, Quality Management Advisor.

The certification has been endorsed by Icontec, an international organization with extensive experience in certifying management systems, which evaluated the processes implemented in the institution through international auditors who verified the effective implementation of the Anti-Bribery Management System and its compliance with the ISO 37001:2016 Standard.

With the delivery of this certification, the Public Ministry of Guatemala becomes a model to follow in the country, operating under high quality standards and with procedures to prevent and combat corruption. It emphasizes the importance of an integrated management system that guarantees efficiency and effectiveness in serving the community.

Among the key aspects for obtaining certification, two fundamental principles of anti-bribery management stand out: the commitment to prevention and the fight against corruption, as well as transparency in the operations of the Public Ministry.

Since September 2024, specialized training sessions have been conducted with international experts, the objectives and scope of the Anti-Bribery Management System have been established, and internal and external audits have been carried out to ensure compliance with the standard’s requirements. These antecedents reflect the meticulous work and determination of the institution in the fight against corruption.

The certification with the ISO 37001 Standard highlights how organizations are increasingly aware of their responsibility in managing risks related to reputation, transparency, and ethics.

During her remarks, the Attorney General stated, “this certification is not simply a recognition; it represents the fruit of arduous, technical, and collaborative work, the product of an institutional transformation process with clear objectives.”

“Guatemala deserves solid, reliable, and transparent institutions, and from the Public Ministry I reiterate my commitment to that,” she emphasized.

This achievement is the result of coordinated work among prosecutors, administrative personnel, and authorities who have responsibly embraced the challenge of transforming the Public Ministry into a model entity at the regional level.

For his part, Mr. Estuardo Ávila, Anti-Corruption Secretary , stated, “I want to express my gratitude to Mrs. María Consuelo Porras Argueta for her commitment against corruption and impunity, and to reiterate to the public that we continue working so that the Public Ministry continues to fulfill its constitutional commitment.”

The Anti-Corruption Secretariat has played a fundamental role in the implementation of ISO 37001:2016. Under its coordination, strategic actions have been developed such as the preparation of the Anti-Bribery Policy, the training of internal auditors, and the dissemination of the system throughout all areas of the Public Ministry, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and institutional ethics.

Processes in the areas of Quality Management System Advisory, Analysis and Verification Advisory, General Supervision, Anti-Corruption Secretariat, Training Unit, Disciplinary Boards, Criminal Analysis Directorate, Criminal Investigations Directorate, Coordination of the Integrated Information System, disciplinary procedures, and processes under the Administrative Headquarters were certified.

Under the direction of Mrs.Porras Argueta, the institution has strengthened its structure with teams of integrity and trust, capable of administering justice with ethics and responsibility.

The certification of multiple prosecutor’s offices and secretariats, as well as obtaining ISO 37001:2016 certification, are proof of its determination to consolidate a Public Ministry free of bribes and corruption.

Guatemala, April 11, 2025.