Thelma Aldana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thelma Aldana
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| 11th Attorney General of Guatemala | |
| In office May 17, 2014 – May 16, 2018 |
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| President | Otto Pérez Molina Alejandro Maldonado Jimmy Morales |
| Preceded by | Claudia Paz y Paz |
| Succeeded by | María Consuelo Porras |
| 55th President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala | |
| In office October 13, 2011 – October 13, 2012 |
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| President | Álvaro Colom Otto Pérez Molina |
| Preceded by | Arturo Archila |
| Succeeded by | Gabriel Medrano |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernández
27 September 1955 Gualán, Zacapa, Guatemala |
| Political party | Semilla |
| Residence | Guatemala City |
| Awards | Right Livelihood Award |
Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernández (born 27 September 1955) is a Guatemalan lawyer and politician. She served as the President of the Supreme Court of Justice from 2011 to 2012. Later, she became the Attorney General of Guatemala, serving from 2014 to 2018.
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Early Life and Education
Thelma Aldana was born in Gualán, a town in eastern Guatemala, in 1955. Her father, Humberto Aldana Vidal, worked in a pharmacy. Her mother, Marta Julia Hernández Garza, was a teacher in rural areas.
In 1982, Thelma Aldana finished her studies at the University of San Carlos in Quetzaltenango. She earned degrees to become a lawyer and a notary. She also has a special advanced degree, called a Master's degree, in Civil and Procedural Law.
Her Career in Law
Thelma Aldana began her career in 1981. She started as a janitor in a Family Court in Quetzaltenango. This showed her dedication to the legal system from the very beginning.
In 1999, she became a judge in a court that handles appeals. This means she helped review decisions made by lower courts. By 2009, she was appointed as a magistrate in the Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Guatemala.
She served as the president of the Supreme Court from 2011 to 2012. In 2014, she took on a very important role. She became Guatemala’s Attorney General, replacing Claudia Paz y Paz. The Attorney General is like the country's chief prosecutor.
Special Courts for Women's Rights
When Thelma Aldana was president of the Supreme Court in 2011, she started a new project. She created special courts in Guatemala. These courts were designed to handle serious crimes against women.
Sadly, violence against women is a big problem in Guatemala. On average, about 56,000 reports of violence against women are made each year. To help with this, eleven districts now have these special courts. Judges and police officers who work in these courts receive special gender crime training. This helps them understand and handle these sensitive cases better.
Fighting Against Corruption
In 2015, Thelma Aldana led another important investigation. This time, it was into government corruption. Corruption happens when people in power use their position for dishonest gain.
She worked closely with Iván Velásquez Gómez. He was the Commissioner of the UN International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). Together, they uncovered a lot of corruption. As a result of their investigation, the President of Guatemala at the time, Otto Pérez Molina, had to resign from his position.
Presidential Campaign
In 2019, Thelma Aldana decided to run for president in the 2019 Guatemalan general election. She campaigned with a new political party called Semilla. Her main promise was to continue fighting against corruption.
However, on May 15, the Constitutional Court stopped her from running. This happened because she faced some claims of corruption. But, it was also noted that no evidence was presented to support these claims. Many people believed that these claims were made to prevent her from becoming president, especially since she was a leading candidate.
Awards and Recognition
Thelma Aldana has received several important awards for her work.
In 2015, she won the Jaime Brunet Prize for the Promotion of Human Rights. This award came from the Public University of Navarra in Spain. She received it for her efforts to protect women's rights and fight against violence. She was also recognized for her work for the rights of indigenous peoples and against political corruption. The prize included 36,000 euros.
In 2016, the US Secretary of State honored her with an International Women of Courage Award. This award recognizes women around the world who show exceptional courage and leadership.
In 2018, she was given the Right Livelihood Award. She shared this award with Iván Velásquez Gómez. They received it for their "innovative work" with CICIG. Their work helped to expose the misuse of power and prosecute corruption. This helped people trust public institutions more.
See also
In Spanish: Thelma Aldana para niños
- Beatriz Ofelia de León - First female president of the Supreme Court of Guatemala
- Silvia Valdés - Third female president of the Supreme Court of Guatemala
- María Consuelo Porras - Attorney General of Guatemala
- List of the first women holders of political offices in North America
