IIHR in the Americas Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights No. 205 – January 2012 Content
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IIHR in the Americas Bi-monthly newsletter of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights No. 205 – January 2012 Content: • IIHR closes regional consultation on democracy and human rights from perspective of poverty and inequality. San José, Costa Rica. • IIHR at commemoration of Salvadoran peace accords. San Salvador and El Mozote, Morazán, El Salvador. • Visit to police investigation school. Santiago de Chile. • Central American meeting on citizen security. Alajuela, Costa Rica. • 2nd edition of vacation training for university students. Montevideo, Uruguay. • IIHR Board of Directors meets. San José, Costa Rica. • Agreement signed with ODECO. La Ceiba, Honduras. • OAS Permanent Council adopts document on IAHRS. Washington, D.C., United States. • Tribute to Luis Pérez Aguirre. Montevideo, Uruguay. • Preparation for training of foreign affairs officials. Montevideo, Uruguay. • Consultation on use of CEDAW. San José, Costa Rica. • 2nd meeting of advisory council for “Development and Promotion of Human Security Concept in Latin America” project. San José, Costa Rica. • Special visit from Norwegian Ambassador to Central America. San José, Costa Rica. • Latin American conference on human security and regional integration agendas. San José, Costa Rica. • IIHR Revista call for articles. San José, Costa Rica. • 1st Brazilian Interdisciplinary Course on Human Rights. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. ********************************************************************** IIHR closes regional consultation on democracy and human rights from perspective of poverty and inequality San José, Costa Rica. A regional consultation on the re-conceptualization of democracy and human rights from the perspective of extreme poverty and inequality was the focus of the IIHR’s 2007-2010 Strategic Framework. In this context, an event was held to examine the effectiveness and implementation of human rights and democracy from this point of view, in order to contribute to shaping the future agenda of the inter-American human rights system (ISHR); it was aimed primarily at enhancing the human rights of individuals and communities in extreme poverty and social inequality through public policy. In this regard, Pedro Nikken, IIHR Permanent Advisor and President of the International Commission of Jurists, said at the close of the last consultation (Bogotá, November 17, 2011) that inequality and poverty are now the greatest affront to democracies in our region and no matter the style and mode of democracy, it is devalued and rendered less effective by extreme poverty, which also undermined its intrinsic values. Based on the results obtained in each region, the IIHR has shown that inequality and exclusion from the benefits of democracy are reflected in the ineffective functioning of institutions meant to protect and promote the rights of citizens. Notwithstanding the extensive analyses and measurements of democracy, participants proposed an analysis on what preventa the effective development and implementation of rights of communities living in poverty. Why not try, from the perspective of the rights of communities living in extreme poverty, to rethink fair rules for coexistence?, they said in a consultation that took place in San Salvador in February 2011. Recommendations coming out of the process will not be reduced to the social dimension of poverty. They will, instead, comprehend the vital issues relating to the dignity and freedom of individuals and communities that do not have access to justice and the participation of excluded communities in democracy. In the IIHR's view, it is also an urgent and thorough critical evaluation of democracy and existing instruments from the perspective of human rights, inequality and poverty, which provide the basis for attention and reflection. In this sense, for the IIHR’s Executive Director, the consultation was a stark analysis and evaluation of democracy from the current problems. Furthermore, the regional systematization – led by teachers Caetano and Gravano – will identify specific factors that prevent citizens living in poverty from benefiting from the human right to dignity to which they are entitled. We do not have to continue to impose unfair rules on the rights of the poor, who are only interested in the minimum rules of existence and respect for human dignity in the Americas, said Cuéllar. The consultation process began in Nairobi (November 2010), continued in San Salvador (February 2011) and culminated in Bogota (November 2011) with the participation of the most recognized organizations working to defend the rights of the most excluded and vulnerable segments of society. Each meeting explored the prevailing perception among organizations and relevant stakeholders on political governance, changes in the citizenry, new democracies and the relationship of these variables to the rights of people living in poverty. This process dared to examine the historical reality of democracy in the Americas based on the actual situation of the rights of individuals and communities disadvantaged within democratic systems and, radically, the rights of women living in extreme poverty. Thus, the consultation, which has been central to institutional rethinking, supported a rare approach to serious regional problems. Since January 15, teachers Gerardo Caetano (Uruguayan) and Ariel Gravano (Argentinean) have been systematizing the results collected in this space for discussion and reflection. They will be released during the 30th IIHR Interdisciplinary Course on Human Rights to be held from September 3-14 and, preliminarily, at the 1st Interdisciplinary Course for Brazil, to be held in June. This course is being organized with the Brazilian Institute for Human Rights and will be led by Professor César Barros Leal, the State Attorney for Fortaleza, academic and IIHR Board member. Read more online: “Human rights from the perspective of poverty” strategic framework ********************************************************************** IIHR at commemoration of Salvadoran peace accords San Salvador and El Mozote, Morazán, El Salvador. From January 11-16, Roberto Cuéllar M. and Pedro Nikken, Executive Director and Permanent Advisor, respectively, were in El Salvador to attend commemorative events marking the twentieth anniversary of the peace accord. Nikken participated as a special guest as a result of the role he played in finding a solution to the Salvadoran conflict. He was a legal advisor to the UN (1990- 1992), special UN representative advising on human rights (1993-1995) and driver of the agreement that created the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL), adopted in July 26, 1990. Nikken also participated as a special guest at the presidential ceremony in El Mozote, Morazán, in remembrance of the more than 400 murdered on December 11, 1981. In this case, which the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will soon consider, the Legal Aid Office of the Archbishop of San Salvador has identified 406 victims, but there are indications that the death toll could be higher. For his part, Cuéllar met with the Vice-President and several national authorities. During these meetings, he recalled the role that the IIHR played in the Salvadoran peace process, as well as the significant participation of Professor Thomas Buergenthal, Honorary IIHR President, on the UN Truth Commission. Read more online: ONUSAL Report from the Truth Commission Peace accords Funes requests pardon and to investigate war crimes ********************************************************************** Visit to police investigation school Santiago de Chile. On January 16, in order to move forward with agreements of cooperation between the IIHR and Investigative Police of Chile (PDI), the Coordinator of the IIHR Regional Office for South America, Soledad García Muñoz, visited the Chilean School for Police Investigation (Escuela de Investigaciones Policiales-ESCIPOL). She met with Marcela Avilés and other ESCIPOL officials, with whom she discussed the diploma program on citizen security, human rights and policing that will soon be offered. Read more online: ESCIPOL – Chilean School for Police Investigation ********************************************************************** Central American meeting on citizen security Alajuela, Costa Rica. On January 18, the INCAE Business School held its 1st Central American Multi-sectoral Meeting on Citizen Security, on the Walter Kissling Gam campus. The event was sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, United States Embassy in Costa Rica and the World Bank. Its objective was to explore the value and viability of a permanent forum for analysis, discussion and reflection on security problems in the region, so that proposals and local strategies to improve regional security outcomes can be developed in a multidisciplinary fashion with multi-sectoral support. As part of this process, participants, who included specialists on the different causes of homicide in the region, explored how to reduce murders by 50% in the next five to ten years. Juan Navarrete, Deputy Director for Central America, attended this inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary meeting on behalf of the IIHR. ********************************************************************** 2nd edition of vacation training for university students Montevideo, Uruguay. The 2nd edition of Vacation Training for university students from Brazil took place on January 19, presided over by John Biehl del Río, OAS Representative in Uruguay. Paola Bertucci, representative