The Institute Honors the President of Costa Rica for the Ratification of the Inter-American Convention Against Racism and Racial Discrimination

The Institute Honors the President of Costa Rica for the Ratification of the Inter-American Convention Against Racism and Racial Discrimination

Washington D.C. March 16, 2017. With the presence of the President of Costa Rica, Luís Guillermo Solís, the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights organized an Act of Recognition, honoring the country for becoming the first in the hemisphere to ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance in Washington D.C.

The congratulatory event took place at the Art Museum of the Americas. Also in attendance as special guest was Margarette May Macaulay, Inter-American Human Rights Commissioner and Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and against Racial Discrimination.

Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of the Institute, thanked the government of Costa Rica for its leadership in promoting the Convention, adding that the ratification of the Convention culminated a process begun in 2003, when civil society began to advocate for a treaty against discrimination. Quesada said civil society “was thrilled when the government of Costa Rica ratified the Convention,” adding that he “encouraged all member states to ratify the Convention.”

Commissioner Macaulay followed, remarking that it was an historic occasion when she witnessed the ratification of the Convention in Costa Rica. Commissioner Macaulay affirmed that “racial discrimination exists everywhere, and the signing of the Convention means that the time has come to address it.” She added, “Too often those who suffer discrimination cannot express themselves, and those who do suffer from it cannot comprehend it.” Macaulay praised Costa Rica and called on the eleven member states who have signed but not ratified the treaty to “be as brave, strong and incisive as Costa Rica,” and to ratify the treaty “so that all people may live equally.”

President Solís closed the evening’s formal remarks, expressing that he received the honor “with great pleasure and humility.” The President affirmed that “Afro-descendants are an important part of Costa Rica,” and that “we must continue to undertake the greatest possible efforts to eradicate racism.” The President closed his remarks by noting that “this is a great time to hope that the Convention can soon come into force.”

Also in attendance were Ambassadors from several other missions to the Organization of American States, as well as representatives from the OAS itself, the Inter-American Commission, and representatives of civil society based in the United States and throughout the Americas.

The Convention—the most comprehensive anti-discrimination treaty in the Americas—was approved by the Organization of American States in June 2013; with its ratification by Costa Rica on August 5, 2016, the document will enter into legally binding force for its adherents upon its ratification by one more member state of the OAS.

The event sought to highlight this important and historic step taken by the Costa Rican government, and to underscore the importance of the Convention as a crucial tool in the fight against racism and racial discrimination in the Americas. It also sought to help maintain the momentum begun by Costa Rica’s ratification of the Convention in order to promote its widest possible adoption by the countries of the hemisphere.

Costa Rica Becomes the First Country in the Region to Ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Related Forms of Intolerance

San Jose, Costa Rica – On August 5, 2016, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis signed Law 9558, by which Costa Rica becomes the first State in the region to ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Related Forms of Intolerance – a Convention approved by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Antigua, Guatemala in 2013.

“As a country, by ratifying the Convention we have taken an important step in guaranteeing the principles of equality and non-discrimination that are safeguarded in our Constitution. The Inter-American Convention becomes, through our own will, a supra-constitutional instrument of obligatory compliance,” President Solis said upon signing the document during an official event.

Commissioner Margarette May Macaulay of Jamaica, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and Against Racial Discrimination of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, attended the formal signing event, supported by the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights.

Afro-Costa Rican congresswoman Epsy Campbell said that by becoming the first country in the region to ratify the Convention, “Costa Rica was making history.” Congresswoman Campbell said she was proud that it was the current government that ratified the Convention, which will improve the lives of the Afro-Costa Rican and indigenous populations.

“This ratification is very important, as it realizes the dream of those of us who participated in the conference in Santiago in 2000 (in preparation for the III World Conference in Durban, South Africa) where, in the conference’s plan of action, countries of the region asked the OAS to consider the creation of a regional instrument to combat racial discrimination,” said Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights. The Institute has worked in support of the Convention’s ratification since its approval in the Americas.

The Convention includes a series of innovative elements, from the definition of racism to the obligation of States to promote affirmative action measures to improve the condition of Afro-descendant and indigenous populations in the Americas. Additionally, it will create an Inter-American Committee against racism, whose objective will be to investigate and monitor the situation of racism in the region.

On behalf of the Costa Rican State, President Solis apologized to the Afro-descendant, indigenous, Jewish, Chinese, Lebanese and Palestinian communities living in the country, “for the forms of discrimination to which they’ve been subjected throughout history.”

With the signing of the Law, the government of Costa Rica must now send a communique to the Department of International Law of the OAS in order to deposit the ratification instrument. It’s important to remember that the Convention will become valid when a second ratification instrument is deposited.

General Assembly of the OAS – Presentation of the Report on Violence against LGBTI persons in the Americas in the Dominican Republic

The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights co-sponsored an event with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Trans Este Podemos Avanzar – TEPA, and Trans Siempre Amigas -TRANSSA, these last two being Dominican LGBTI rights organizations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on June 14, 2016. The purpose of the event, held parallel to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) was to present the Inter-American Commission’s report Violence against LGBTI Persons in the Americas.

The co-organizers welcomed the participation of Emilio Álvarez Icaza, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission, who began by summarizing the findings of the report and emphasizing the multi-faceted discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans, and intersex persons in the Americas, and the violent consequences this discrimination produces. Inter-American Commission President, James Cavallaro, and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Edison Lanza, were also in attendance.

Mr. José Luiz Machado e Costa, Ambassador of Brazil to the OAS, noted that his country has been at the forefront of the push for the inclusion of LGBTI rights on the OAS agenda, and that civil society organizations have played a large role in this effort; including the resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity that Brazil always propose and co-sponsor.

Carlos Quesada, Executive Director of the Institute, spoke about the importance of the Commission’s report for LGBTI human rights activists in the region, and the need to utilize the recommendations included in said report for advocacy purposes. Representatives from the other two co-sponsoring organizations also urged the over ninety attendees to strategically advocate with domestic stakeholders for the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations.

This event was also marked by discussions highlighting intersectionality and the benefits of forming alliances with other groups facing varied forms of discrimination, especially at the regional and international levels. Alejandra Sarda from the LGBTI Coalition of LGBTI organizations in the Americas expressed that in Argentina they have been used already information from the report. Cristian King, Executive Director from TRANSSA expressed that the report included all the problems faced by members of the LGBTI community in the Dominican Republic; while Monica Ruiz from TEPA highlighted all the violence that the Trans community faced, not only in the Dominican Republic, but in the entire continent; especial from police and other state actors.

Participation in General Assembly of the OAS – Inter-American Forum of Afro-descendants in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic

The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights held the Inter-American Forum on Afro-descendants on Friday, June 10, 2016, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in conjunction with the Jacques Viau Network and DominicanosxDerecho. This annual civil society event, planned to coincide with the Organization of American States’ (OAS) General Assembly, this year brought together over ninety Afro-descendant and LGBTI activists from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The main objectives of the Forum were to promote the effective participation of Afro-descendant and LGBTI organizations in the General Assembly and broaden their advocacy opportunities before the OAS, and make more visible the rampant discrimination suffered by Afro-Dominicans and Dominicans of Haitian Descent in the Dominican Republic. To this end, the morning sessions of the Forum focused generally on the situation of Afro-descendants in the Americas, and the afternoon sessions on the specific reality of the Dominican Republic.

During the morning, the Institute welcomed the participation of a diverse array of speakers representing regional and national civil society organizations working on issues related to the human rights of Afro-descendants, as well as a special presentation via Skype by Zakiya Carr-Johnson, Director of the Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion Unit at the U.S. Department of State. Several LGBTI activists also commented on overlapping and intersectional expressions of discrimination faced by both Afro-descendants, and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans, and intersex individuals.

After a theatrical presentation by the group The Twelve Apostles, made up primarily of young Dominicans of Haitian Descent from bateys around Santo Domingo, panelists in the afternoon continued to focus the discussion on the situation of Dominico-Haitians. Speaking first about the historical 2014 decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favor of the restoration of rights for Dominicans of Haitian Descent, representatives from Dominican organizations that have continued to advocate for these rights commented that unfortunately the Court’s decision has not been implemented. Dominicans of Haitian descent continue to suffer discrimination and have largely been unable to obtain their identity documents; consequently, the number of registered voters in the last general election was ten percent lower than in previous elections.

The Forum concluded with a screening of the the documentary Lives in Transit, which focuses on the experiences of Dominicans of Haitian descent struggling to get their documentation. Participants were also given the opportunity to consolidate advocacy strategies for the Civil Society Informal Dialogue with OAS Secretary General Almagro, which was held on June 12, 2016.

 

#SalvemosLaCIDH: Addressing the Financial Crisis Facing the Inter-American Commission

OAS Member States,

The Coalition for Human Rights in the Americas, and the members of other regional and global networks from civil society, express our deep concern over the severe financial crisis currently affecting the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR). We endorse this statement in order to appeal all Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) to take the necessary actions to guarantee the immediate and proper funding of the IACHR in order to fulfill its mandate. In addition, we urgently call for the creation of a sustainable fund to finance the Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System (IHRS), in order to address the precarious situation, which both the Commission and Inter-American Court of Human Rights have been going through since in the last few years.

The Inter-American Commission is mandated to promote the observance and protection of human rights in the Americas, and acts as a consultative organ to the OAS in this area. It is the only regional mechanism that supervises the obligations of all Member States of the OAS in this area, and constitutes the last resort for defending against violations of fundamental rights in the continent.

The IACHR is an international referent, due to its great labour of protecting thousands of human rights defenders, who live threatened and criminalized in the Americas. This organ watches over the indigenous people and afro-descendant people’s rights, women and children, and the LGTBI community rights as well, among other vulnerable populations. The role of the IACHR, not only in the area of human rights protection, but also in the implementation of measures to promote their accomplishment, affects almost a billion people across the region.

In spite of that, the Inter-American Commission has historically suffered from a structural lack of funds, which are currently reaching the point of effectively compromising the Commission’s ability to fulfill its basic functions, including its mandate assigned by the OAS Member States. The Commission itself has announced that on July 31st of 2016 the contracts of 40 percent of its personnel will expire, and at this time the Commission does not have the funds—or the expectation of receiving the funds—to be able to renew them. In addition, the IACHR has reported that it has been forced to suspend the country visits it had planned for this year, as well as the 159th and 160th Period of Sessions, which had been scheduled for July and October of this year.

In contrast with other human rights protection organs, either national or international, the financing received by the IACHR from the regular OAS fund, meaning from the Member States, is contradictory with the countries’ wish to aspire to build a more democratic region. In 2016, the regular budget provided by the fund was around $5,4287.9 million dollars, which is 6.44 percent of the annual budget of the OAS – by comparison, the Council of European member States provides 41.5 percent of its annual budget to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Even though the OAS General Assembly has approved in the past resolutions committing to address this matter, these changes have not materialized with the required increase of resources, that would allow both the Commission and Court – whose budget will be reduced in a third part by the end of the year, if nothing changes – to have with the proper funding to successfully fulfill their mandates.

In addition, the aim of this petition is not only for the IACHR to be able to carry out with the scheduled activities for the current year, to renew the contracts of 40 percent of its staff and to conduct the 159th and 160th Period of Sessions, but also to create a structure for this purpose that converts the funding of those organs into a sustainable practice, significantly increasing the budget that the OAS provides to the Inter-American Human Rights System.

The signing Civil Society organizations see in this crisis a unique opportunity to reinforce the OAS Member States’ commitment to human rights in the continent. This is why we call on countries to figure out how to secure a strong and stable funding structure, which effectively guarantees the protective devices and tools that the ISHR provides to millions of people in the Americas.

Sincerely,

RaceEqualitylogoheader

The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights

 

In addition to over 300+ Civil Society Organizations worldwide

Argentina
Clínica en Discapacidad y Derechos Humanos,
Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)

Brasil
Associação Juízes para a Democracia (AJD)
Articulação para o Monitoramento dos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
Centro de Agricultura Alternativa do Norte de Minas (CAA/NM)
Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
FIAN Brasil
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais do Rio de Janeiro
Instituto de Estudos Socioeconómicos – INESC
Justiça Global
Movimento dos Atingidos e Atingidas por Barragem (MAB)

Bolivia
Oficina Jurídica Para la Mujer

Canadá
Abogados sin fronteras

Colombia
Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo (CCAJAR)
Colectivo Socio jurídico Orlando Fals Borda
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ)
Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz de Colombia
Consultorio Jurídico Internacional de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Santo Tomás -Bogotá-
Corporación REINICIAR
Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento Forzado (CODHES) Corporación Jurídica Libertad
Corporación Jurídica Yira Castro
Corporación Sisma Mujer
FIAN Colombia
Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos
Red Colombiana de Mujeres por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos

Costa Rica
Agenda Política de Mujeres
Asociación Ciudadana ACCEDER
Asociación Gerontológica Costarricense (AGECO)
Asociación Manu
Beso Diverso
Centro de Investigación y Promoción para América Central de Derechos Humanos (CIPAC)
Centro Feminista de Información y Acción (CEFEMINA)
Centro Internacional para los Derechos Humanos de los Migrantes (CIDEHUM) Colectiva Caminando
Colectiva Irreversibles
Colectivo de Ciclismo Urbano ‘Las Luciérnagas’
Confederación de Trabajadores Rerum Novarum (CTRN)
Defensa de Niñas y Niños (Internacional DNI)
Este es Mi Cuerpo
Familias Diversas
Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Costa Rica
Foro por los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad
Frente por los Derechos igualitarios
Fundación Bandera Ecológica
Fundación PANIAMOR
Furia Rosa
Grupo Poder Ciudadano
Hijas de la Negrita
MULABI – Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Derechos
Peras del Olmo
Personas, sexualidades y géneros (PSG)
¿Piropos o acoso?
Proyecto Lyra
Psicology Community
Red Feminista contra la Violencia hacia las Mujeres
Servicio Jesuita para Migrantes
Tío Hugo
Unión Asesora Afrodescendiente (UNASAF)

Ecuador
Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.”
(CSMM)
Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU)
Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos de Guayaquil (CDH)
Comité Nacional de Víctimas de Lesa Humanidad y Graves Violaciones de Derechos Humanos en Ecuador
Observatorio Sociolaboral y Diálogo Social en el Ecuador OSLADE
Pueblo Sarayaku

El Salvador 
Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto Terapéutico, Etico y Eugenésico en El Salvador.
Asociación Comunicando y Capacitando a Mujeres Trans con VIH en El Salvador(COMCAVIS TRANS)
Asociación Pro Búsqueda de Niñas y Niños
Coalición Salvadoreña para la Corte Penal Internacional
Colectiva Feminista para el Desarrollo Local
Comisión de Derechos Humanos de El Salvador (CDHES)
Espacio de Mujeres Lesbianas por la Diversidad (ESMULES)
Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (FESPAD)
Oficina de Tutela Legal Dra. María Julia Hernández
Red de Defensores y Defensoras de El Salvador
Red Salvadoreña de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos
Servicio Social Pasionista SSPAS

Estados Unidos 
AFL-CIO, Central Sindical de los Estados Unidos
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law
Church World Service
Clínica de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de Texas
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Institute for Policy Studies – Global Economy Program
National Security Archive
Sister Parish, Inc.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Guatemala
Alianza frente a la Criminalización
Asociación El Refugio de la Niñez
Asociación Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Guatemala, FAMDEGUA
Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de las Víctimas de la Violencia en las Verapaces, Maya Achi. (ADIVIMA)
Centro de Acción Legal-Ambiental y Social de Guatemala (CALAS)
Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos (CIIDH)
Centro para la Defensa Legal Indígena (DLI)
Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH)
Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala
Comité de Desarrollo Campesino (CODECA)
Comunidades en Resistencia del Estor, Izabal
Convergencia por los Derechos Humanos
Grupo de Trabajo contra la Desaparición Forzado de Guatemala
Farmacéuticos Mundi Guatemala
Foro de ONG Internacionales en Guatemala (FONGI)
Fundación Myrna Mack
Grupo Guatemalteco de Mujeres (GGM)
Guatemala Solidarität Österreich (Austria-Guatemala)
Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos
Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales de Guatemala (ICCPG)
Mujeres en Defensa del Territorio, Guatemala
Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Arzobispado de Guatemala (ODHAG)
Organización de Apoyo a una Sexualidad Integral frente al Sida (OASIS)
Red Nacional de Protección de Defensoras de Guatemala
Red de la No Violencia contra las Mujeres (REDNOVI)
Iglesia Luterana ILUGUA de Guatemala

Honduras
Asociación Colectiva de Mujeres Hondureñas (CODEMUH)
Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia (AJD)
Casa Alianza Honduras
Comité por la Libertad de Expresión (C-Libre)
Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CIPRODEH)
Comunidad Gay Sampedrana para la Salud Integral
Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación de la Compañía de Jesús en Honduras (ERIC-SJ)
Espacio Asociación de Cooperación Internacional (ACI)
Foro de Mujeres por la Vida
Fundación para la Salvaguardia del Medio Ambiente en el Democrático Desarrollo Socioeconómico y de las Instituciones (FUNDAMENTE)
Movimiento Amplio por la Dignidad y la Justicia (MADJ)
Movimiento de Mujeres por la Paz “Visitación Padilla”
Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña, OFRANEH
Red Lésbica Cattrachas
Honduras Delegation, Honduras-Alemania
Cadena de Derechos Humanos Honduras (CADEHO), Honduras-Alemania

México
Asociación Jalisciense de Apoyo a los Grupos Indígenas, A.C. (AJAGI) (Guadalajara, Jal.)
Bowerasa, A.C. “Haciendo Camino” (Chihuahua, Chih.)
Casa del Migrante de Saltillo (Saltillo, Coah.)
Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, A.C. (Ciudad de México)
Centro “Fray Julián Garcés” Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Local, A. C. (Tlaxcala, Tlax.)
Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador, A.C. (CAT) (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Don Sergio” (Jiutepec, Mor.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas”, A. C. (San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chis)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Francisco de Vitoria O.P.”, A. C. (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Fray Matías de Córdova”, A.C. (Tapachula, Chis.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Juan Gerardi”, A. C. (Torreón, Coah.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez”, A. C. (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña, Tlachinollan, A. C. (Tlapa, Gro.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (CEDEHM)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (Chihuahua)
Centro de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos del Sur de Veracruz “Bety Cariño”, A.C. (Tatahuicapan de Juárez, Ver.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa, A.C (Tonalá, Chis.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Paso del Norte (Cd. Juárez, Chih.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Toaltepeyolo (Orizaba, Veracruz)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Victoria Diez, A.C. (León, Gto.)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Zeferino Ladrillero (CDHZL) (Estado de México)
Centro de Derechos Indígenas “Flor y Canto”, A. C. (Oaxaca, Oax.)
Centro de Derechos Indígenas A. C. (Bachajón, Chis.)
Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Propuesta Cívica A. C. (Propuesta Cívica) (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Justicia para la Paz y el Desarrollo, A. C. (CEPAD) (Guadalajara, Jal.)
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral (CEREAL-DF) (Ciudad de México)
Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral (CEREAL-Guadalajara) (Guadalajara, Jal.)
Centro Diocesano para los Derechos Humanos “Fray Juan de Larios”, A.C. (Saltillo, Coah.)
Centro Juvenil Generando Dignidad (Comalcalco, Tabasco)
Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA) (Ciudad de México)
Centro Mujeres (La Paz, BCS.)
Centro Regional de Defensa de DDHH José María Morelos y Pavón, A.C. (Chilapa, Gro.)
Centro para el Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer (CEDIMAC) – Ciudad Juarez
Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco”, A.C. (BARCA) (Oaxaca, Oax.)
Ciencia Social Alternativa, A.C. KOOKAY (Mérida, Yuc.)
Ciudadanía Lagunera por los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CILADHAC) (Torreón, Coah.)
Ciudadanos en Apoyo a los Derechos Humanos A.C. (CADHAC), México
Ciudadanos por una Causa en Común A.C.
Colectivo contra la Tortura y la Impunidad (CCTI) (Ciudad de México)
Colectivo Educación para la Paz y los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CEPAZDH) (San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chis.)
Comisión de Derechos Humanos y Laborales del Valle de Tehuacán, A.C. (Tehuacán, Pue.)
Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (COSYDDHAC) (Chihuahua, Chih.)
Comisión Independiente de Derechos Humanos de Morelos, A. C. (CIDHMOR)(Cuernavaca, Mor.)
Comisión Regional de Derechos Humanos “Mahatma Gandhi”, A. C. (Tuxtepec, Oax.)
Comité Cerezo (Ciudad de México)
Comité Cristiano de Solidaridad Monseñor Romero (Ciudad de México)
Comité de Defensa de las Libertades Indígenas (Palenque, Chis.)
Comité de Defensa Integral de Derechos Humanos Gobixha A.C. (CODIGODH) (Oaxaca, Oax.)
Comité de Derechos Humanos “Fr. Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada”, A. C. (Ocosingo, Chis.)
Comité de Derechos Humanos “Sierra Norte de Veracruz”, A. C. (Huayacocotla, Ver.)
Comité de Derechos Humanos Ajusco (Ciudad de México)
Comité de Derechos Humanos de Colima, A. C. (Colima, Col.)
Comité de Derechos Humanos de Comalcalco, A. C. (CODEHUCO) (Comalcalco, Tab)
Comité de Derechos Humanos de Tabasco, A. C. (CODEHUTAB) (Villahermosa, Tab)
Comité de Derechos Humanos y Orientación Miguel Hidalgo, A. C. (Dolores Hidalgo, Gto.)
Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos “Hasta Encontrarlos”(Ciudad de México)
Comité Sergio Méndez Arceo Pro Derechos Humanos de Tulancingo, Hgo A.C.(Tulancingo, Hgo.)
Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC)
Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria AC (CONTEC) (Chihuahua) El Caracol, A.C (Ciudad de México)
Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria, A.C. Chihuahua, México
Coordinación Alemana por los Derechos Humanos en México
Dirección de Programas de Incidencia de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Documenta, AC
Estancia del Migrante González y Martínez, A.C. (Querétaro, Qro.)
Frente Cívico Sinaloense. Secretaría de Derechos Humanos (Culiacán, Sin.)
Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho (Ciudad de México)
Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación
Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE)
I(DH)EAS, Litigio Estratégico en Derechos Humanos A.C.
Indignación, A. C. Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (Mérida, Yuc.)
Iniciativa Ciudadana y Desarrollo Social, INCIDE Social, A.C.
Institucional de Derechos Humanos y Paz (Guadalajara, Jal.)
Instituto de Derechos Humanos Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J. Universidad Iberoamericana- Puebla (Puebla, Pue.)
Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir
Instituto Guerrerense de Derechos Humanos, A. C. (Chilpancingo, Gro.)
Instituto Mexicano de Derechos Humanos y Democracia A.C.
Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario, A. C. (IMDEC) (Guadalajara, Jal.)
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente.Programa
Justicia, Derechos Humanos y Género, A.C. (Ciudad de México)
La 72, Hogar-Refugio para Personas Migrantes (Tenosique, Tabasco)
Mujeres Indígenas por la Conservación, Investigación y Aprovechamiento de los Recursos Naturales, A. C. (CIARENA)(Oaxaca)
Oficina de Defensoría de los Derechos de la Infancia A.C. (ODI) (Ciudad de México),
Organizaciones Mexicanas sin fines de Lucro
Programa de Asuntos de Género de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Programa de Asuntos Migratorios de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Programa de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Programa de Interculturalidad y Asuntos Indígenas de la Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México
Programa de Medio Ambiente de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Programa Institucional de Derechos Humanos y Paz
Programa Universitario de Derechos Humanos. UIA –León (León, Gto.)
Promoción de los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (PRODESCAC) (Estado de México)
Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (ProDESC) (Ciudad de México)
Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER) (Ciudad de México)
Red de Periodistas de a Pie
Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos “Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos”
Respuesta Alternativa, A. C. Servicio de Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo Comunitario (San Luis Potosí)
Servicio, Paz y Justicia de Tabasco, A.C. (SERPATAB) (Villahermosa, Tab.)
Servicios de Inclusión Integral, A.C. (SEIINAC) (Pachuca, Hgo.)
Spatium Libertas, A.C.
Tequio Jurídico A.C. (Oaxaca, Oax.)
Voces Mesoamericanas, Acción con Pueblos Migrantes AC (San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas).

Nicaragua
Centro de Asistencia Legal a Pueblos Indígenas (CALPI)
Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH)
Centro por la justicia y Derechos Humanos de la Costa Atlántica de Nicaragua
(CEJUDHCAN)
Iniciativa Nicaragüense de mujeres defensoras de derechos humanos
Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres
Movimiento contra el abuso sexual

Panamá
Alianza Ciudadana Pro Justicia
Alianza de Mujeres de Panamá
Centro de Asistencia Legal Popular
Mesa Nacional de Migrantes y Refugiados de Panamá
Movimiento Democrático Popular
Red de Derechos Humanos de Panamá

Paraguay
Ágora Espacio Civil Paraguay

Perú
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH)
Asociación Paz y Esperanza
Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos – Perú EQUIDAD
Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos – Promsex
Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH)

Uruguay
Instituto de Estudios Legales y Sociales del Uruguay (IELSUR)

Venezuela
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello
Espacio Público
Vicaría de derechos humanos de Caracas

Regionales y Globales
Acompañamiento de Austria (ADA)
Alianza de Redes Ambientales (ARA)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Amnistía Internacional
Asociación de Investigación y Especialización sobre temas Iberoamericanos (AIETI) Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
Asociación Paz con Dignidad, España
Asociación Regional Centroamericana para el Agua y el Ambiente. ARCA
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (Awid)
Ayuda de la Iglesia Noruega (AIN)
Centro de Derechos Reproductivos (CDR)
Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL)
Coalición Centroamericana Democrática (CAD)
Comité de América Latina y el Caribe para la Defensa de los Derechos de las Mujeres (CLADEM)
Consejería en Proyectos para Refugiados Latinoamericanos (PCS Centroamérica) DanChurchAid
Departamento internacional de la Iglesia sueca
Diakonia
Federación Internacional de Derechos Humanos (FIDH)
Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace Presence (FOR) Presente por la Paz
FIAN Indonesia
Foro Suizo para los Derechos Humanos y la Paz en Guatemala y Honduras
Fundación para el Debido Proceso (DPLF)
Fundación Sueca para los Derechos Humanos
Grupo de Información sobre América Latina (IGLA), Viena, Austria
Iglesia Sueca
IM- Swedish Development Partner, oficina para Centroamérica
Instituto Interamericano sobre Discapacidad y Desarrollo Inclusivo (IIDI)
Instituto Internacional sobre Raza, Igualdad y Derechos Humanos
InteRed, España
Ipas
JASS (Asociadas por lo Justo) Mesoamérica
Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
MISEREOR, obra episcopal para el desarrollo, Alemania
Movimiento por la Paz (MPDL)
Movimiento Sueco por la Reconciliación (SweFOR)
Oficina Ecuménica por la Paz y la Justicia de Múnich, Alemania (Öku-Büro München) Oficina Regional de We Effect para América Latina
OXFAM IBIS
Oxfam Internacional
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD Regional)
Plataforma Internacional contra la Impunidad
Protection International
Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua. FANCA
Red de Organizaciones de Personas con Discapacidad de Centroamérica y El Caribe (REDODICEC)
Red Europea de Comités Oscar Romero
Red Latinoamericana de Género y Salud Colectiva de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Medicina Social RLGSC – ALAMES
Red Regional de Organizaciones Civiles para las Migraciones (RROCM)
Red Euro-Latinoamericana para la Prevención de la Tortura y la Violencia Institucional (RELAPT), integrada por los siguientes organismos: Observatorio del Sistema Penal y los Derechos Humanos (OSPDH) Universidad de Barcelona, España; Universidad Santo Tomás, Colombia; Defensa Pública de Santa Fe, Argentina; Secretaria de Derechos Humanos – Provincia de Chaco, Argentina; Defensoría de Casación de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Procuración Penitenciaria de la Argentina, Argentina; Grupo Crítica Penal Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina; Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención de la Tortura (MNPT), Costa Rica; UniCUB, Brasil; UnB Brasil; Defensa Pública, Costa Rica; Universidad Nacional de José C Paz (UNPAZ ), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ), Uruguay; Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional (UCI), Costa Rica; Universidad La Gran Colombia (UGC), Bogotá, Colombia; Centro de Estudios en Seguridad Ciudadana (CESC) del Instituto de Asuntos Públicos de la Universidad de Chile, Chile; Defensora General de la Nación, Argentina; Asociación Interamericana de Defensorías Públicas (AIDEF), Argentina y Bloque de Defensores Públicos Oficiales del Mercosur (BLODEPM).
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Solidaridad Mundial Bélgica
Terre des Hommes, Alemania
Trócaire
Justicia Alimentaria Global (VSF)
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

Personas individuales
Dra. Julia E. Monárrez Fragoso, profesora e investigadora, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (México)
Hannia Franceschi Barraza, profesora jubilada, Universidad de Costa Rica (Costa Rica) Gabriela Delgado Ballesteros, investigadora UNAM México (México)
Seidy Salas Víquez, periodista (Costa Rica)
David Augusto Dávila Navarro, defensor de derechos humanos y Profesor Universitario (Guatemala)
Rocío Culebro, defensora de derechos humanos (México)
Edgar Cortez, defensor de derechos humanos (México)
Sonia Solís Umaña, antropóloga social, profesora de la Universidad de Costa Rica
(Costa Rica)
Maritza Muralles, bibliotecaria (Guatemala)
Jose Montero Peña, defensor de derechos humanos, Costa Rica
Farith Simon Campaña, decano del Colegio de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
Daniela Salazar Marín, vicedecana del Colegio de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
Juan Pablo Albán Alencastro, director del Consultorio Jurídico Gratuito del Colegio de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
Natalia Serrano Álvarez, activista y defensora de derechos humanos, Costa Rica
Luis Diego Molina Moreira, activista y defensor de derechos humanos, Costa Rica Nadiezda Serrano Álvarez, ingeniera agrónoma y activista, Costa Rica
Luisa Ochoa Chaves, profesora, Universidad de Costa Rica
José Luis Ospina, defensor de derechos humanos (Colombia)
M.A. Helen Amrhein, abogada y consultora independiente, Costa Rica
Robert Mercatante, defensor de derechos humanos, Estados Unidos
Reina Auxiliadora Rivera Joya, defensora de Derechos humanos Honduras
Anabella Sibrián, defensora de los derechos humanos, Guatemala
Aura Lolita Chávez, defensora de los derechos humanos, Guatemala
José Antonio Caballero, defensor de los derechos humanos, México
Pedro Carrera, defensor de los derechos humanos, Guatemala
Victoria María Napky Talavera, Abogada, Honduras

 

Violence Against Black Women in Brazil has Increased: “The Maria de Penha Law Hasn’t Reduced Murders of Black Women”

Photo courtesy of OAS photographer Daniel Cima, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Violence Against Black Women in Brazil has Increased: “The Maria de Penha Law Hasn’t Reduced Murders of Black Women”

That was the message of Brazilian partners Criola—Black Women’s Organization of Rio de Janeiro, and Geledes—The Brazilian Black Women’s Institute in a public hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on April 7, in Washington, D.C. In their presentation before the Commission, Jurema Werneck of Criola, Nilza Iraci and Rodnei Jerico da Silva included statistics demonstrating that while rates of violence against white women in Brazil have decreased, during the same period violence against black women has increased.

“Between 2011 and 2013, sixty-four percent of women murdered in Brazil were black,” Werneck affirmed, citing official statistics. According to figures of the Secretary for Women’s Policy, at least 4,762 women died from gender-based violence in 2013. In other words, 13 women murdered each day, 33.2 percent of whom died at the hands of a partner or spouse.

In a ranking headed by Latin American countries, the 2015 Violence Map produced by the UN placed Brazil fifth in the world for violence against women, with a rate of 4.8 cases per 100,000 women.

One of the most powerful figures cited in the study showed that from 2003-2013 murders of white women in Brazil dropped by 9.8 percent, while the number of black women killed rose from 1,864 per year to 2,875 per year, an increase of 54.2 percent. “The statistics demonstrate that the Maria de Penha Law has not been able to reduce violence against black women,” Werneck said.

In presenting specific cases, the petitioners told stories of violence against black women, be it at the hands of authorities, husbands, partners or strangers. Among the cases cited was that of Veronica Bolina, a transgender black women held in a prison for men since 2015, where after being brutally beaten by police she was forced to dress as a man in a clear act of denigration and in violation of her human rights. In conclusion of their presentation, the petitioners called for the Commission to help the Brazilian government face the structural and institutional racism confronted by black women.

Representatives of the Brazilian state argued that although statistics show that violence has increased against black women, the government has been making an effort to improve the situation of this sector of the population. Margarette May Macaulay, the Commission’s Rapporteur on the Rights of Women, asked several questions about how to guarantee black women’s sexual and reproductive rights, including the right to terminate pregnancy, especially given the Zika virus epidemic. The petitioners expressed the the majority of women victims of the virus are black. According to Werneck, seventy percent of the pregnant women carrying the Zika virus are black.

Working Day to Heighten Visibility of Afro-Descendants in Chile: Workshop on the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Connected Forms of Intolerance

On April 15 in Santiago, Chile, the Afro-Chilean organizations Lumbanga and Oro Negro held a working day to heighten the visibility of the Afro-Chilean population, including a workshop on Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Connected Forms of Intolerance.

Carlos Quesada, Director of the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights, spoke of the draft and signing process of the Convention, approved by the Organization of American States General Assembly in Antigua, Guatemala in 2013. Christian Báez of the Lumbanga organization underlined how important it was that over 40 participants from various Afro-Chilean organizations, alongside representatives from the Foreign Ministry, had attended the workshop to better understand the current state of the Convention in the Chile, whose government signed the document in 2015.

Participants expressed the importance of understanding the Convention’s content, especially given that Chile currently does not plant to include the Afro-Chilean population in the 2017 census process. Azneth Báez from the organization Oro Negro said that racism and racial discrimination were so deep-rooted in Chile that Afro-Chileans are frequently mistaken for immigrants.

The event took place during the working day held in the Chilean capital, where more that 120 members of Afro-Chilean civil society had traveled 2000 kilometers from Arica to participate in various workshops, meetings and protests against the exclusion of Afro-Chileans in the next census process.

On April 13, a workshop was held at the office of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on the importance of accurate statistics on the Afro-Chilean population. The workshop’s objective was to heighten the visibility of Afro-Chileans in the Chilean statistical system in order to better guide public investment to benefit the population. During the workshop, the Institute brought Cecilia Ramírez of the Center for the Development of Peruvian Black Women (Centro de Desarrollo de la Mujer Negra Peruana), to share the experience of Afro-Peruvians in successfully achieving the inclusion of the ethnic variable in the 2017 Peruvian census.

The Institute would like to remind the Chilean government about the recommendations made by the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, specifically the recommendation that Chile include disaggregated data on the Afro-Chilean population in its next report to the Committee.

Other events held during the three-day period included a visit to the Chilean Congress, cultural activities and a public demonstration in Santiago to demand the inclusion of Afro-Chileans in the census. The workshop was supported by the Ford Foundation and the Arica municipal government.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Insists that the Dominican Government Recognize Existence of Structural Racial Discrimination in the Country

Photo courtesy of OAS photographer Daniel Cima, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Washington, D.C., April 8, 2016

 “The Dominican Republic must recognize the existence of structural racial discrimination in the country,” said Emilio Álvarez Icaza, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), to the delegation of the Dominican Republic during a thematic hearing held Friday, April 8 at the Organization of American States (OAS).

Human rights defenders from the Dominican Republic presented to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the grave rights situation of Dominicans of Haitian descent, including the precariousness of their right to nationality and the discrimination by State agents they face when attempting to access their identity and electoral documents. In light of upcoming elections in the Dominican Republic scheduled for May 15, the petitioners drew particular attention to the effects of these types of violations on the political rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent, particularly in regard to the right to vote and hold office.

Unfortunately, the remarks made by the Dominican mission demonstrated very little willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue. Representatives of the State expressed their unhappiness with Commission for granting the hearing and then denying the government’s request for postponement. Even more worrisome, the government continued to deny the existence of discrimination of any kind in the country.

Faced with the Dominican government’s intransigence, the Commission responded forcefully. Addressing the State, Secretary Executive Álvarez reminded the delegation that despite the government’s objections, “continuing to address this issue is a manifestation of the Commission’s grave concern,” and that the State’s position “to deny that a problem of racial discrimination exists reproduces rights violations institutionally, socially and culturally.” Secretary Álvarez reiterated that the findings of the Commission in its report on human rights in the Dominican Republic, “showed the structural denial of economic, social and cultural rights of Dominicans of Haitian origin,” who suffer “undeniable conditions of poverty and a lack of rights.” Referring to the State’s stance during the hearing, Secretary Álvarez affirmed that “today we have seen yet another chapter in the expression of structural racism.”

Representatives of Dominican civil society informed the Commission of actions by the Central Election Board (Junta Central Electoral) that have resulted in thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent being denied their basic identity and electoral documents, and testified that this could have grave consequences in the elections scheduled for May. The petitioners accused the Electoral Board of executing the Dominican State’s policy of restricting the political and electoral rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent, calling the Board the primary obstacle to the enjoyment of these rights and citing the institution’s “confrontational, belligerent attitude and unwillingness to dialogue or seek solutions.” This portrayal was echoed by Secretary Álvarez, who added in his remarks that “the Central Electoral Board has been an institutional apparatus responsible for reproducing discrimination.”

In conclusion of their testimony, the petitioners recommended to the Commission that it urge the Dominican government to ensure Dominicans’ equal enjoyment of political rights regardless of their families’ origin. They also urged reform of the civil registry and electoral system to ensure non-discrimination, and recommended affirmative actions be taken to ensure that the political rights of vulnerable groups are protected, calling for the establishment of a Permanent National Dialogue Table where civil society groups and the government can work together toward these ends. The Petitioners asked that the Commission’s Rapporteur on the rights of migrants be included in the OAS’ electoral observation delegation schedule to visit the country for the elections scheduled for May 15th.

To access video of the hearing, follow this link.

Cuban Human Rights Defenders Report on Rights Violations on the Island before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Photo courtesy of OAS photographer Daniel Cima, licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

Washington D.C., April 8, 2016

 Members of independent Cuban human rights groups presented on violence against and intimidation of human rights defenders and independent journalists in Cuba during a public hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States.

No representatives of the Cuban government attended. Nevertheless, Commissioner Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño, Rapporteur for Cuba, while lamenting the State’s absence reiterated the Commission’s invitation to the government to engage with human rights defenders and affirmed the Commission’s “commitment to be a vehicle for constructive dialogue between both parties.”

Magaly Norvis Otero, Executive Director of Hablemos Press, informed the Commission of the serious violations of rights to free speech and information that continue to occur in Cuba, where independent media have had their news sites blocked by State censors, their offices broken into and equipment stolen or damaged, and where reporters have been victims of arbitrary detentions. Kirenia Yalit Núñez Pérez of the Cuban Youth Dialogue Table testified to harrassment and threats to members of her organization, including restrictions on the groups international travel to participate in human rights events.

Lartiza Diversent of Cubalex explained to the Commission the difficulty of operating as an independent legal organization in Cuba and informed that members of Cubalex have been threatened and harassed on the basis of their gender or race. Leticia Ramos Herrería of the Ladies in White: Laura Pollan chapter, spoke harassment and intimidation, telling the Commission of that members of the Ladies in White have suffered nearly 2,800 arbitrary detentions thus far in 2016, and have been victims of threats, harassment and severe physical abuse by State agents, statements that were corroborated with photographs of injuries to activist perpetrated by Cuban security forces.

Commissioner Enrique Gil Botero saluted the great effort and acknowledged the risks assumed by the petitioners in coming before the Commission. Commissioner Botero asked about the number of political prisoners in Cuba. Berta Soler of the Ladies in White responded to the Commissioner’s question, stating that “although there is no international standard in Cuba for determining who is a political prisoner, because many times we are jailed on fabricated charges and sentences for common crimes, we can say that at this time there are around 115 political prisoners in Cuba.”

Commissioner Margaret Macaulay asked about repression against particularly vulnerable populations, specifically against Afro-descendants and LGBTI persons. In response to this question, petitioners cited the case of two LGBTI activists recently detained for reproducing trainings on the rights of the LGBTI community. Laritza Diversent added that “the level of violence in the repression of black women activists is brutal,” and that “Afro-descendancy is a determinant factor the cruelty of attacks” by State agents.

The petitioners made several recommendations to the Commission to address the severe violations of human rights defenders’ rights, asking the Commission to investigate cases of indiscriminate and excessive force by State agents. Petitioners asked that the Commission urge the Cuban government to eliminate obstacles barring independent organizations from legally carrying out their activities, to make the necessary legal reforms in order to guarantee full and effective freedom of expression and association, and to cease all activities that restrict these rights in their practice.

To access video of the hearings, please follow this link.

The Situation Of Human Rights Defenders In Cuba

Presented by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights

Friday, April 8, 2016
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, lunch included
American University Washington College of Law
4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Room Y112, Washington DC 20016

Speakers:
Berta Soler, Movimiento Damas de Blanco “Laura Pollán”
Laritza Diversent, Centro de Información Legal Cubalex
Kirenia Núñez, Mesa de Diálogo de la Juventud Cubana
Roberto de Jesús Guerra, Centro de Información HABLEMOS PRESS

Moderator:
Carlos Quesada, Executive Director, International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
Introductory Remarks by: Claudia Martin and Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Professorial Lecturers in Residence and Co-Directors, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law

This event will be in Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation

Registration is free but required – please email hracademy@wcl.american.edu by April 6.
For further information, contact us at 202.274.4070 or hracademy@wcl.american.edu.

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