Livewire - Amnesty International blogging for human rights

By Fernanda Doz Costa,
Researcher on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Americas

Last Friday, I participated in a very interesting hearing about maternal mortality, where four experts from the Americas gave testimony before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights  in Washington DC.

It was great working in partnership with them; each brought different experience and expertise.
Continue reading ‘Campaigning on maternal mortality in Latin America’

El día de ayer Amnistía Internacional asistió a la audiencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, junto a 400 personas provenientes de diferentes organizaciones tanto campesinas, como indígenas, así como de distintos movimientos sociales y grupos de defensa de derechos humanos, para escuchar al Estado paraguayo rendir cuentas de lo que se ha avanzado en la protección de la comunidad indígena Sawhoyamaxa. Amnistía ha estado movilizándose junto con esta comunidad desde 2008.

La comunidad Sawhoyamaxa comenzó su lucha por recuperar sus tierras ancestrales hace 18 años en 1991. La comunidad esta constituida por entre 400 y 500 personas y se ha visto forzada de vivir en un estrecho de terreno al costado de una carretera principal, mientras aguardan la resolución  de su reclamación de tierras.

Continue reading ‘Solidaridad a través de las fronteras’

Amnesty International went yesterday today to a public hearing of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in La Paz, Bolivia  with 400 people from a range of human rights, campesino and Indigenous organizations and social movements.

They went to hear the Paraguayan state held to account for progress it has made in safeguarding the survival of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous community. Amnesty International has been campaigning with this community since 2008.

Continue reading ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Rights - Solidarity across borders’

Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International’s section in Canada, is in Trinidad

It was quite something to see how quickly the people of Port of Spain reclaimed their city as the Summit came to an end on Sunday afternoon. As leaders headed off to the airport, barricades came down and city streets that had been off limit for several days were once again accessible.

You could almost hear a collective sense of relief in neighbourhoods that had been no-go zones throughout the Summit.

Clearly the big stories coming out of the Trinidad Summit revolve around what is being called a “new beginning” for US relations with the hemisphere, particularly with Latin American states. President Obama’s overtures towards Cuba and the several friendly encounters between him and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have received considerable play. All of the leaders are talking of the spirit of compromise and dialogue sparked by that “new beginning.”

Continue reading ‘Port of Spain reclaimed after Summit of the Americas’

Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International’s section in Canada, is in Trinidad
Much has been said by the Trinidadian government during the run-up to this Summit about the great benefit it will bring to Trinidadians. Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning has no doubt been aware that many people here are dubious, doubting that the enormous cost and disruption of hosting this major gathering are worth it.

He has repeatedly assured Trinidadians that the exposure and prestige of welcoming 34 leaders and more than one thousand journalists would bring needed attention to the country, boosting trade, tourism and political clout. Whether or not his strategy of giving the Americas a chance to get to know Trinidad will pay off remains to be seen. But what is clear is that the Trinidadian government has done very little to allow Trinidadians to engage, in a meaningful way with the Americas.

Continue reading ‘The rights of Trinidadians left behind at Summit of the Americas’