FREEDOM HOUSE WORKING WITH VENEZUELA HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS CARACAS 001842

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID KDEM PHUM VE
SUBJECT: FREEDOM HOUSE WORKING WITH VENEZUELA HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS


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SUMMARY
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1. USAID Venezuela entered into a cooperative agreement with
the US-based human rights organization Freedom House in
September 2004. Through this project, Freedom House is
increasing the capacity of Venezuelan human rights defenders
to document and report on the human rights situation in
Venezuela. Freedom House's efforts to-date have included
periodic visits to Venezuela and workshops in Mexico
(January - Reftel 000921),Guatemala (March),and Peru
(May). The next workshop is scheduled for Argentina in
August. End Summary

2. The two-day workshop in Guatemala reviewed and analyzed
ways to improve the physical and institutional security of
human rights (HR) defenders and organizations in Venezuela.
These included measures to be taken in-country as well as
international support mechanisms, such as procedures for
contacting the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights,
and procedures for requesting protective measures from the
Inter-American Court. This workshop brought together 11 HR
organizations from Caracas and the interior, 5 members of
media/press organizations, and representatives of 3
universities. It was hosted by the Guatemalan HR
organization "National Movement for Human Rights".

3. The workshop in Peru provided training to 10 Venezuelan
HR lawyers on strategies and tactics for legal defense in
the event of human rights violations. This was followed by
a weeklong exchange for representatives of 7 Venezuelan HR
organizations with counterparts in Peruvian organizations.

4. Venezuela's HHRR community is marked by strong leaders,
backed by weak organizations. Venezuelan HHRR organizations
work individually and most often not as part of a solid
network. Freedom House training provides additional
linkages between HHRR NGOs. One example is that a group of
HR lawyers has decided to form a network of HR defenders
focused solely on civil and political liberties, rather than
including economic and cultural rights. Another example is
that several media HR organizations have been meeting to
discuss the creation of a Freedom of Information Act for
Venezuela.

5. Freedom House - through the workshops and visits to
organizations around the country - has developed important
relationships with many HR organizations, both in Caracas
and the interior. Because of the Freedom House rep's
experience, expertise, and contacts with HHRR defenders the
NGO has become a link between organizations which normally
have little contact with one another.
BROWNFIELD


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2005CARACA01842 - UNCLASSIFIED