Virginia Laparra, a Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor, was forced into exile to protect her life after being targeted by conservative elites for her efforts. Following her accusations against a judge for leaking sensitive corruption case details, Laparra faced imprisonment and a series of retaliatory charges. After leaving her two daughters to seek asylum in Mexico, she expressed that exile feels akin to death as it strips away familial and social ties. Laparra's work with the International Commission Against Impunity underscores the significant risks faced by human rights defenders in Guatemala.
Nobody goes into exile voluntarily. Exile is the only thing left when nothing else has worked, it's the only thing you've got left to defend your life and your freedom.
Exile is just little bit different, a little bit less than death. [Your persecutors] take everything from you, take away your family, your children, your parents, your house, your way of life, your friends.
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