Taiwan’s Control Yuan said in a news release on Tuesday that a delegation from Guatemala’s Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office visited the agency on Monday, marking a step toward closer bilateral cooperation. 

Acting Control Yuan President Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) said Guatemala is one of Taiwan’s key diplomatic allies and highlighted the ombudsman office’s efforts to promote regional and international human rights collaboration. He said both sides hope to deepen mutual understanding of institutional operations and lay the foundation for future cooperation.

The delegation, led by Human Rights Ombudsman Dr. José Alejandro Córdova Herrera and Juan Carlos Diaz Contreras, Director of Cooperation and International Relations, visited Taiwan at the invitation of the Control Yuan and the Foreign Ministry. Córdova delivered a keynote speech outlining the office’s structure, authority, and practical experience in advancing surveillance and human rights protection. 

During a Q&A session, Control Yuan members asked how the office balances legal and moral authority and “manages mediation in major social conflicts.” Córdova said the institution serves as a “neutral coordinator,” seeking consensus on an equal footing to safeguard rights and restore social balance.

He added that although the office lacks enforcement power, it can still influence reform by mobilizing public moral pressure and offering constructive recommendations.