DOCSLIB.ORG

Letter from the Government of Honduras on Actions Taken

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Letter from the Government of Honduras on Actions Taken Appendix 13 – Letter from the Government of Honduras on actions taken OFFICIAL LETTER No.1077-DGPE/DSM-10 Tegucigalpa, June 4, 2010 Excellency, It is my honor to present my compliments and to say that the purpose of this letter in follow- up to the two notes sent to the international community in April 2010 is to express our desire for genuine understanding of the situation in our country and that the international community be suitably and correctly informed of the efforts of the Government of Honduras to implement a real process of national unity and reconciliation. I should begin by drawing attention to the fact that our president, Mr. Porfirio Lobo Sosa, has set about the task of leading the country with the strength afforded him by the legitimacy of a transparent election extensively observed by the international community, in which the majority of the people of Honduras clearly, lawfully, and unmistakably expressed their will in the search for peace, stability, and restored unity. This electoral process, called by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal under the administration of former President Zelaya Rosales, was preceded by the primary elections in which all legally registered political parties chose their candidates to the National Congress, Municipalities, and the Presidency of the Republic, a process monitored by international observers—including those from the Organization of American States (OAS)—who noted the transparency and success thereof. I am at pains to draw your attention to the fact that Article 51 of the Constitution of Honduras defines the Supreme Electoral Tribunal as an autonomous and independent entity responsible for the convocation, organization, direction, and supervision of electoral processes. Elections are neither called nor supervised by the executive branch; rather they are presided over by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal in the framework of the autonomy that the Constitution accords it. I wish to point out that the November 2009 elections in Honduras were not a consequence of the political crisis that arose in the wake of June 28. This electoral process was legally scheduled as part of Honduras’ ongoing democratic system that began in 1980, when the country enjoyed a felicitous return to democracy and citizen participation in its leadership. Jose Miguel Insulza Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Washington, D.C. The mandate of the Honduran people was overwhelming and President Lobo Sosa was elected with the highest number of votes in the country’s history. Never before has a president received as many votes as President Lobo Sosa did in the elections of November 2009. Having been appointed president, and in spite of the political cost which that represented, the government of Honduras has decided–not as an obligation but as the result of a deep-seated conviction–to continue to comply with each of the undertakings given in the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord, with the assurance that its represents a path toward social peace, unity and reconciliation for the country. Excellency, I should underline the fact that upon winning the elections, President Lobo Sosa, despite having no obligation, told the world that as president he would embrace the commitments and recommendations set out in the Accord signed by former presidents Zelaya Rosales and Micheletti Bain on October 30, 2009. The foregoing is not the upshot of a legal mandate or duty, nor even of a political undertaking; the decision to implement the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord is the result of a personal conviction as premier of a desire for real change, peace, reconciliation, and a new beginning for Honduran society. Thus, since taking office, President Mr. Lobo Sosa has succeeded in setting the following initiatives in motion: 1. The issuance by the National Congress of a political amnesty, which, though not provided for in the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord, was regarded as a mechanism to encourage reunification; 2. The organization of a Government of National Integration in which three of the presidential candidates from the five legally registered political parties represented in the November 2009 general elections have a part. I should note, for your information, that this Government of National Integration also includes officials from the government of former President Zelaya Rosales and other individuals who steadfastly stood by him in all his endeavors, including Marvin Ponce, deputy for the Democratic Unification Party, as Deputy Speaker of the National Congress; Cesar Ham, President of the Democratic Unification Party, currently Minister-Director of the National Agrarian Institute; and Jorge Arturo Reina Idiaquez, Ambassador to the United Nations under the government of President Zelaya, and who President Lobo Sosa has appointed Roving Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3. The creation and installation of a Truth Commission, which formally took up its duties on May 4 last and is composed of highly prestigious individuals from Honduras and other countries, who shall have complete freedom of action over the coming eight months before presenting a report to the nation with recommendations designed to prevent a repetition of the events that occurred in the country on June 28, 2009. 4. The creation of an office with ministerial rank to implement a government policy on human rights as a measure in addition to the efforts to protect and advance these rights in Honduras. The strengthening of the human rights ombudsman, increasing its budget and investigation capacity, as well as inviting the participation of nongovernmental agencies involved in human rights in the country. Reference should also be made to the assistance requested from the Governments of Spain, Colombia, and the United States, in order to contribute to investigation procedures in pending cases for which Honduras must answer to the relevant human rights bodies at the regional and international level. Observance of human rights is a fundamental concern for this government. 5. Parliamentary approval and presidential sanction of the Law on a Vision for the Country and a National Plan, which lays the groundwork for development in Honduras over the next 28 years. Never before in its history has the country had a long-range plan that addresses the expectations of the nation by setting national objectives, priority goals, strategic guidelines, and progress indicators, in parallel with the creation of the Technical Secretariat for Planning and External Cooperation as the body responsible for follow-up on this long-term national vision for the future. 6. The creation of different forums to allow permanent civil society participation, together with the declaration of citizen participation as a core tenet of governance for the Government of Honduras. 7. Observance of fair-trial guarantees for those who were indicted for the alleged commission of political and related crimes, as well as the application thereto of the provisions of the Amnesty Law. The most widely publicized instance of this is the decision adopted by the judge presiding over the prosecution of Rebeca Patricia Santos, former Minister of Finance under the administration of President Zelaya Rosales, who has been granted an amnesty. Just as Rebeca Santos has, many of the former officials of the Zelaya Rosales administration who faced civil suits and criminal charges have returned to the country and received the full protection of the law in order to stand trial under Honduran Justice. Not one of them is in prison and all are answering the charges against them under the benefit of precautionary and non-custodial measures. Others have been tried and acquitted. The Government of Honduras has made significant strides in the process of national unity and reconciliation and will continue to regard as its responsibility the need to pursue efforts toward peace, stability, and reunification of the Honduran family. On the international plane, more than 90% of our diplomatic relations have been normalized and, at this writing, a very substantial portion of multilateral cooperation agencies have also been normalizing their technical assistance and loan programs in the country. Little by little Honduras is regaining its confidence, private enterprise is retaking its rightful place as a pillar of economic development, and civil society is playing a daily growing role in the country’s development. In spite of that, the challenges are enormous, some two-thirds of the Honduran population live in poverty and more than a third endure extreme poverty. Only 25% of our households are connected to the sewerage system. The average school attendance rate in our country remains among the lowest in Latin America, and the healthcare system is still far from meeting the expectations and needs of eight million inhabitants. International cooperation plays an important role in tackling these challenges in the country. The assistance provided by international financial agencies such as the IDB and World Bank is essential for the meeting the basic needs of millions of Hondurans. The solidarity of the international community is necessary in this process, and we are convinced that any interruption in assistance to Honduras, even where it impairs the administrative capacity of the government, has a stronger impact on the aspirations and dreams of those who for a long time have yearned to improve their standard of living. I feel I must insist that we cannot continue to make decisions that hurt those who had least to do with the crisis and who, alas, have borne the brunt of the consequences. There have been positive developments at the international level, such as the attendance of President Porfirio Lobo Sosa at the EU-Central America Summit and the signing of the Association Agreement between the two regions. That instrument was signed on an equal footing by all the member states of the European Union and Central America, in full exercise of their sovereignty, bearing in mind its importance and relevance for Honduras now and in the future.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Honduras
    Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Honduras The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) in Honduras, headed by former President of Bolivia Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, deployed a team of 82 experts and observers from 25 countries to cover the general elections held on November 26. The Mission began by dispatching an advance technical team to the country on October 30 to observe the preparation of the electoral cases (maletas electorales, containing election materials), the training being given to members of the polling stations, and the delivery of their credentials, along with other aspects relating to the transmission and dissemination of results, including demonstrations and the test run drill on November 12. On November 6 that team was joined by the mobile group observers, who traveled to the different departments in the country to observe in situ the progress being made with preparations for the elections and to meet the actors involved in the electoral process. The Mission completed its deployment with the arrival of the experts, regional coordinators, and international observers, together with the Head of Mission and the Special Advisor to the EOM, former President of Guatemala Álvaro Colom. During its stay in Honduras, the Mission met with government and electoral authorities, political parties and coalitions, the Supreme Court of Justice, representatives of civil society, the electricity company (Empresa de Energía de Honduras), and the diplomatic community, as well as other actors. The experts conducted a substantive analysis of the electoral process in terms of its organization, the technology used, campaign financing, gender perspective, electoral justice, and facilities for voting abroad.
    [Show full text]
  • LIFE and WORK in the BANANA FINCAS of the NORTH COAST of HONDURAS, 1944-1957 a Dissertation
    CAMPEÑAS, CAMPEÑOS Y COMPAÑEROS: LIFE AND WORK IN THE BANANA FINCAS OF THE NORTH COAST OF HONDURAS, 1944-1957 A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Suyapa Gricelda Portillo Villeda January 2011 © 2011 Suyapa Gricelda Portillo Villeda CAMPEÑAS Y CAMPEÑOS: LIFE AND WORK IN THE BANANA FINCAS OF THE NORTH COAST OF HONDURAS, 1944-1957 Suyapa Gricelda Portillo Villeda, Ph.D. Cornell University 2011 On May 1st, 1954 banana workers on the North Coast of Honduras brought the regional economy to a standstill in the biggest labor strike ever to influence Honduras, which invigorated the labor movement and reverberated throughout the country. This dissertation examines the experiences of campeños and campeñas, men and women who lived and worked in the banana fincas (plantations) of the Tela Railroad Company, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company, and the Standard Fruit Company in the period leading up to the strike of 1954. It describes the lives, work, and relationships of agricultural workers in the North Coast during the period, traces the development of the labor movement, and explores the formation of a banana worker identity and culture that influenced labor and politics at the national level. This study focuses on the years 1944-1957, a period of political reform, growing dissent against the Tiburcio Carías Andino dictatorship, and worker agency and resistance against companies' control over workers and the North Coast banana regions dominated by U.S. companies. Actions and organizing among many unheralded banana finca workers consolidated the powerful general strike and brought about national outcomes in its aftermath, including the state's institution of the labor code and Ministry of Labor.
    [Show full text]
  • Long-Term Development in Post-Disaster Intentional Communities in Honduras
    From Tragedy to Opportunity: Long-term Development in Post-Disaster Intentional Communities in Honduras A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY Ryan Chelese Alaniz IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Ronald Aminzade June 2012 © Ryan Alaniz 2012 Acknowledgements Like all manuscripts of this length it took the patience, love, and encouragement of dozens of people and organizations. I would like to thank my parents for their support, numerous friends who provided feedback in informal conversations, my amazing editor and partner Jenny, my survey team, and the residents of Nueva Esperanza, La Joya, San Miguel Arcangel, Villa El Porvenir, La Roca, and especially Ciudad España and Divina for their openness in sharing their lives and experiences. Finally, I would like to thank Doug Hartmann, Pat McNamara, David Pellow, and Ross MacMillan for their generosity of time and wisdom. Most importantly I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Ron, who is an inspiration personally and professionally. I would also like to thank the following organizations and fellowship sponsors for their financial support: the University of Minnesota and the Department of Sociology, the Social Science Research Council, Fulbright, the Bilinski Foundation, the Public Entity Risk Institute, and the Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship. i Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to all those who have been displaced by a disaster and have struggled/continue to struggle to rebuild their lives. It is also dedicated to my son, Santiago. May you grow up with a desire to serve the most vulnerable.
    [Show full text]
  • Plh Partido Liberal De Honduras
    Partis Politiques PLH PARTIDO LIBERAL DE HONDURAS Données clés Date de création : 5 février 1891. Positionnement idéologique actuel : Libéral, de centre-droit à centre-gauche. Le manque de cohésion idéologique et la forte fragmentation interne rendent le positionnement flou. Affiliations internationales : Membre de l’Internationale libérale et de la COPPPAL (Conférence Permanente des Partis Politiques d’Amérique Latine et des Caraïbes). Implantations territoriales : Mobilisation des zones urbaines principalement. Le parti compte 31 bastions, situés dans l’ouest du pays et a l’avantage dans environ 61 autres municipalités plus au centre, à tendance abstentionniste. Principaux dirigeants : Roberto Michelleti Bain (Président du parti), Ernesto Elvin Santos Lozano (Vice- président), Bill O’Neill Santos Brito (Secrétaire Général), Eduardo Antonio Bueso (Secrétaire des Finances). Mode de désignation des dirigeants : Le Président du Conseil National Exécutif, son Vice-président et les secrétaires sont choisis lors des élections primaires par un vote direct, secret et selon le principe de proportionnalité. Mode de désignation des candidats : Les candidats à la Présidence et la Vice-présidence sont choisis lors d’élections internes ouvertes. Périodes au gouvernement : 1957-1963, 1982-1986, 1986-1990, 1994-1998, 1998-2002, 2006-2010. ________________________________________________________ Résultats électoraux (29 novembre 2009) Elections présidentielles Elections législatives Candidats Nombre de Parti politique Votes % Parti politique présidentiels
    [Show full text]
  • The Case Against Roberto Micheletti Baín
    Parents of Assassinated Activist sue Honduran Coup Leader: The Case against Roberto Micheletti Baín HONDURAS AND THE COUP aftermath have not been called to account for their actions. On June 28, 2009, the Honduran military kidnapped and forcibly exiled President Zelaya in a coup d’etat. The MURILLO V. MICHELETTI BAÍN coup against President Zelaya was universally condemned by the United Nations, the European On June 23, 2011, Union, the Organization of American States, the Inter- the Center for American Commission on Human Rights, and Constitutional numerous governments around the world, including Rights (CCR) filed that of the United States. a complaint in the Houston Division COUP OPPOSITION & THE KILLING OF ISIS of the Southern MURILLO District of Texas, on behalf of On July 5, 2009, President Zelaya attempted to return David Murillo and to Honduras and restore the democratically-elected Silvia Mencías, the government. Zelaya intended to return by airplane and parents of Isis land at Toncontin International Airport in the capital Obed Murillo. Silvia Mencías, the mother of Isis Obed of Tegucigalpa, although the self-declared interim Murillo, holds a photograph of her son. The defendant is government under de facto President Roberto Roberto Micheletti Baín, former president of the Micheletti Bain said it would not allow him to return. Honduran National Congress who assumed the role of Nineteen-year-old Isis Obed Murillo and his family head of the de facto government immediately joined thousands of other coup opponents at the following the coup d’etat ousting President Zelaya, and airport for a non-violent, peaceful gathering to acted as such until January 27, 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • Honduras SIGI 2019 Category Low SIGI Value 2019 22%
    Country Honduras SIGI 2019 Category Low SIGI Value 2019 22% Discrimination in the family 25% Legal framework on child marriage 50% Percentage of girls under 18 married 27% Legal framework on household responsibilities 50% Proportion of the population declaring that children will suffer if mothers are working outside home for a pay - Female to male ratio of time spent on unpaid care work 3.1 Legal framework on inheritance 0% Legal framework on divorce 0% Restricted physical integrity 25% Legal framework on violence against women 25% Proportion of the female population justifying domestic violence 12% Prevalence of domestic violence against women (lifetime) 22% Sex ratio at birth (natural =105) 105 Legal framework on reproductive rights 100% Female population with unmet needs for family planning 11% Restricted access to productive and financial resources 24% Legal framework on working rights 100% Proportion of the population declaring this is not acceptable for a woman in their family to work outside home for a pay 7% Share of managers (male) 53% Legal framework on access to non-land assets 0% Share of house owners (male) 69% Legal framework on access to land assets 25% Share of agricultural land holders (male) - Legal framework on access to financial services 25% Share of account holders (male) 54% Restricted civil liberties 15% Legal framework on civil rights 0% Legal framework on freedom of movement 0% Percentage of women in the total number of persons not feeling safe walking alone at night 66% Legal framework on political participation 0% Share of the population that believes men are better political leaders than women - Percentage of male MP’s 79% Legal framework on access to justice 0% Share of women declaring lack of confidence in the justice system 58% Note: Higher values indicate higher inequality.
    [Show full text]
  • Vivajoh O #Fuerajoh an Analysis of Twitter's Takedown of Honduran
    #VivaJOH o #FueraJOH An analysis of Twitter’s takedown of Honduran accounts Elena Cryst and Isabella García-Camargo Stanford Internet Observatory April 2, 2020 io.stanford.edu Contents 1 Summary 3 1.1 Summary Statistics . 3 2 Key Takeaways 4 3 Background 5 3.1 President Juan Orlando Hernández . 5 3.2 Social Media Usage and Past Takedowns in Honduras . 6 4 April 2020 Twitter Takedown 7 4.1 Network Graph Analysis . 7 4.2 TNH and the Government Accounts . 9 4.3 The Content Creators . 12 4.4 Las Sexi . 13 4.5 The Activistas . 16 5 Conclusion 19 2 1 Summary On April 2, 2020, Twitter announced a takedown of datasets attributed to the social media manager of Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado (commonly referred to by his initials “JOH”). Among the over 3,000 accounts pulled down were the accounts of the Honduran government-owned television station Televisión Nacional de Honduras, several content creator accounts, accounts linked to several presidential initiatives, and some “like-for- likes” accounts likely in the follower-building stage. Interestingly, a subset of accounts in the dataset are related to self-identified artists, writers, feminists and intellectuals who largely posted tweets critical of the Honduran president. 1.1 Summary Statistics The Honduras takedown consists of 3,104 accounts and 1,165,019 tweets. 553,211 tweets were original and 611,808 were retweets. Accounts dated as far back as 2008, but roughly two thirds were created in the last year. Figure 1: Accounts created per day, 11/21/2008 – 1/3/2020 The rate of tweets swelled as the number of accounts grew, but with distinct peaks that coincided with several events in Honduras, including the start of the president’s re-election bid in 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical and Geographic Distribution in Honduras
    Occasional Papers Museum of Texas Tech University Number 375 15 April 2021 Bats in time: Historical and Geographic Distribution in Honduras Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco, Richard K. LaVal, Don E. Wilson, and Hefer D. Ávila-Palma Abstract Bat records from Honduras reported herein are based on 11,163 individuals representing 113 species and eight families, recorded from 1860 to 2020. The Global Biodiversity Informa- tion Facility (GBIF) and published records were used to document the history of bat collecting in Honduras, and the number of species expected for the country and their relative abundance were estimated. Herein, the first checklist available for each department in Honduras is provided, as well as a discussion of the history of bat research in the country, including three peaks that oc- curred in 1967–69, 1983, and 2001. The geographic position of Honduras and the variety of its ecosystems combine to promote a diversity of bat species that are typical of regions to both the north and the south of Honduras. Despite the relatively large number of specimens known from the country, details of the distribution and natural history of each species remain understudied. Key words: Central America, Chiroptera, Honduras, natural history, relative abundance Resumen Los registros de murciélagos de Honduras que se describen en este documento se basan en 11,163 individuos que representan 113 especies y ocho familias, registrados desde 1860 hasta 2020. El Fondo de Información sobre Biodiversidad Global (GBIF) y los registros publicados se utilizaron para documentar la historia de la recolección de murciélagos en Honduras. Además se estimó el número de especies esperadas para el país y se describe la abundancia relativa de todas las especie.
    [Show full text]
  • Transformaciones En La Política Exterior De Honduras Y Su Expresión En Las Relaciones Con El Salvador Y Nicaragua (2009-2017)
    Esta tesis está dedicada: Principalmente a Dios, por darme la vida y la oportunidad de llegar hasta este momento tan importante de mi formación profesional. Por brindarme la salud y la fuerza suficiente para lograr mis objetivos y, por nunca dejarme caer en los peores momentos de mi vida. A mis padres, Vicente Paul Kauil Nahuat y María Oliveria Poot Uc, quienes con su inmenso amor y sacrificio me han brindado todo lo que han podido, por hacer de mí una persona con buenos valores. Gracias por apoyarme en este proceso, por creer en mí y por enseñarme a no rendirme. Gracias por darme la dicha de ser su Hijo, ustedes son mi motor más grande en la vida. A mis hermanos: Josué, Osvaldo, Cristóbal, por soportar mis cambios de humor, quizá no he sido el mejor hermano, pero a ustedes les debo más de lo que se pueden imaginar, Gracias por no dejarme solo en este camino que no ha sido nada fácil. A mi hermana y cuñado: Elmi Roceli y Ever, por darme el tesoro más grande, mis dos sobrinos -Johan y Gina-, Gracias por escucharme y no juzgar mi vida. A mi directora de tesis, la Dra. Jazmín Benítez López, por creer en mí, por brindarme su experiencia y confianza en la elaboración de este proyecto. Gracias por el tiempo, por compartir el conocimiento, motivarme y aconsejarme. Mi más grande admiración, por su paciencia, esfuerzo y dedicación en el campo de la investigación. Estaré eternamente agradecido por brindarme su amistad. Asimismo, agradezco al comité lector de la tesis, al Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Honduras Political Crisis
    Honduras political crisis The situation 2. Crisis management planning After more than 27 years of democratic rule, Honduras was Once it was clear to our crisis management team that the thrown into political turmoil following the removal of President security situation was deteriorating, a meeting was convened Manuel Zelaya by the military in the early hours of 28 June to determine a strategy to support clients in Honduras and 2009. Zelaya’s ousting and subsequent exile were sparked by those who planned to travel there. his attempt to push forward with a controversial referendum which would have allowed him to change the constitution red24 assistance in the Honduras crisis: red24’s Crisis and extend his term in office. A few hours after the apparent Response Management Centre is actively monitoring coup, the Honduran congress speaker, Roberto Micheletti, developments in Honduras. We currently have security was sworn in as interim president with the support of the consultants on the ground who are aiding clients in the country. legislature, the courts and the military. Should you require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact red24. These political changes led to substantial tension; pro- and anti-Zelaya protests were held in a number of towns and cities 3. Travel and security alerts – Email and SMS (text) and some turned violent. The situation was particularly acute in notification the capital, Tegucigalpa. Violent confrontations were focused Email and SMS alerts were sent to subscribers whenever there on the presidential palace and later the international airport, was a significant security development in Honduras. Using this and riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse information, clients could avoid potentially dangerous areas hundreds of angry demonstrators.
    [Show full text]
  • Amicus Curiae in the Case of Vicky Hernández
    350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 Tel: +1-212-290-4700 Fax: +1-212-736-1300; 917-591-3452 Kenneth Roth, Executive Director New York, November 11, 2020 Deputy Executive Directors Michele Alexander, Development and Global Initiatives Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito Emma Daly, Media (Acting) Barbara Pirto, Operations (Acting) President Joseph Saunders, Program (Acting) Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Advocacy Inter-American Court of Human Rights San José, Costa Rica Colin Mincy, Chief People Officer Dinah PoKempner, General Counsel James Ross, Legal and Policy Director Subject: Human Rights Watch Amicus Curiae in Division and Program Directors the Case of Vicky Hernández and Family v. Brad Adams, Asia Nicole Austin-Hillery, United States Honduras Eric Goldstein, Middle East & North Africa (Acting) Mausi Segun, Africa José Miguel Vivanco, Americas Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia I. INTRODUCTION Heather Barr, Women’s Rights (Acting) Shantha Rau Barriga, Disability Rights Richard Dicker, International Justice Lama Fakih, Crisis and Conflict Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) respectfully submits this brief to the Inter- Bill Frelick, Refugees’ Rights Arvind Ganesan, Business and Human Rights Steve Goose, Arms American Court of Human Rights (“Inter-American Court” or “this Court”) as Amanda Klasing, Women’s Rights (Acting) Zama Neff, Children’s Rights amicus curiae in the case Vicky Hernández and Family v. Honduras, filed by La Graeme Reid, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Daniel Wilkinson, Environment and Human Rights (Acting) Red Lésbica Cattrachas and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights on behalf of three Advocacy Directors Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil family members of the decedent in the case.
    [Show full text]
  • Inside This Issue
    www.thedialogue.org Tuesday, June 30, 2009 FEATURED Q&A BOARD OF ADVISORS Will Venezuela Move to Modify Pharmaceutical Patents? Diego Arria Donna Hrinak Director, Senior Director of Latin Earlier this month, Venezuela's Venezuela seems to be following two Columbus Group America Government trade minister said the govern- trends. The first one has a positive stand Affairs, PepsiCo Genaro Arriagada ment was carrying out a review toward innovation, technology diffusion Board Member, Banco Jon Huenemann of patents, including those on and access to medicines. The second trend del Estado de Chile Principal, Qpharmaceutical products, arguing patents points toward the 'nationalization' of both International elevate the prices of goods and fill the cof- foreign and local private undertakings, Joyce Chang Department, fers of multinational corporations. Leaders clearly being the case with recent expropri- Global Head of Miller & Chevalier Emerging Markets of Venezuela's pharmaceuticals industry ations. This latter process could also be Research, JPMorgan James R. Jones say revoking patents and allowing drug expanded to cover 'intangible assets.' The Chase & Co. Co-chair, makers in Venezuela to produce patented Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Manatt Jones W. Bowman Cutter medications could discourage foreign Health of 2001 allows countries to take Global Strategies LLC Partner, investment in Venezuela and also cause measures to protect public health and E.M. Warburg John Maisto shortages of medicine. Do you agree? Will encourage countries to use TRIPS flexibili- Pincus Director, more medicine reach the neediest people US Education Finance Continued on page 3 Rui da Costa Group if patents are revoked? How much do pro- Managing Director, tections for intellectual property rights Latin America & the Nicolás Mariscal matter in Latin America's health systems? Caribbean, Chairman, Hewlett-Packard Co.
    [Show full text]