Abstract
The Program Against Violence and Impunity (PAVI) project was focused on: (1) the strengthening of prosecution and trial of homicides and other serious crimes; (2) improvement of management and coordination systems among justice sector institutions, including support for the design and implementation of merit-based personnel hiring and promotion systems; and, (3) the targeting of Peten as a region in need of special attention where an integrated approach was required. Based on research and fieldwork, the evaluation concluded that PAVI's most important contributions to the rule of law in Guatemala were: (1) increased and improved prosecution of crimes against life; (2) improved the installations and the security of the High Impact Courts; (3) made the 24-hour Courts less expensive to manage; (4) designed an annual evaluation system for 500 justices of the peace and 350 trial judges and the reorganization of the Judicial School; (5) organized a civil society organizations group to provide services to increase protection to victims of crime and violence, particularly women; and (6) improved prosecution of crimes against the environment in Peten. (Excerpt, modified)