FREEDOM HOUSE STRENGTHENS VENEZUELAN HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS CARACAS 000921 SIPDIS NSC FOR BARTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID KDEM PHUM VE SUBJECT: FREEDOM HOUSE STRENGTHENS VENEZUELAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. In response to the alleged human rights violations of February/March 2004, USAID Venezuela entered into a cooperative agreement with Freedom House in September 2004. Through this project Freedom House will increase the capacity of human rights defenders in Venezuela to document and report on the human rights situation, while maintaining a neutral stance and high levels of professionalism in a difficult working environment. End Summary. ¶2. The USAID/Freedom House agreement is being implemented through a series of workshops carried out in other Latin American countries. The strategy additionally provides the opportunity for Venezuelan human rights activists to network and build linkages with their counterparts in other countries. ¶3. The first training event was held in Mexico City, Mexico from January 31 - February 4, focusing on "How to Protect Human Rights in a Situation of Impunity." Representatives from three Caracas-based NGOs, a Caracas-based university, and four regional NGOs participated. ¶4. During the five days, the NGO representatives - working with Mexican human rights organizations - reviewed and analyzed actual and hypothetical cases, studied procedures for documenting and researching human rights abuses, discussed relations with the media, the preparation of annual reports, and planned for how to implement in Venezuela what was learned. This work will be followed up by the Freedom House representative during his periodic visits to Venezuela. ¶5. Freedom House then facilitated a two-day workshop (February 8-9) for 18 human rights lawyers - including 11 Venezuelans - on the preparation of court cases related to extra-judicial killings in situations of impunity. According to the Freedom House representative, the workshop evaluations were the most positive he's seen during his five years working with Freedom House. He noted that they demonstrated both the effectiveness and relevance of the workshops, as well as the general lack of exposure of Venezuelan human rights to training and the work of their colleagues in other countries. ¶6. The next workshop is scheduled for March 29-30 in Guatemala City. The main topic will be the operational security of human rights defenders. Twenty Venezuelans are expected to attend. McFARLAND NNNN 2005CARACA00921 - UNCLASSIFIED