HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2005 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 005156

SIPDIS

FOR DRL/SEA-PSAWCHYN AND WHA/CAR-DSEARBY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL DR KPAO ODIP PGOV
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2005 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

REF: STATE 202764


1. Following is Embassy's response to action requests in
paras 5-6 reftel:


2. Quotations on the meaning of human rights and freedom:

Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, First Lady of the Dominican
Republic:

(Begin original Spanish text, as published on
http://www.primeradama.gov.do/ver discursos.php?id n=28)

Los derechos humanos constituyen la conquista mas importante
de la humanidad para proteger la dignidad de las personas.
Con su nacimiento en la epoca del transito a la modernidad,
se impone a nivel politico el valor de la tolerancia, que fue
el primer derecho humano, reconocido y reglamentado, en la
llamada Declaracion de Derechos de 1688, el Bill of Rights,
que sustenta juridicamente el sistema ingles de proteccion de
derechos fundamentales.

Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, Primera Dama/First Lady of the
Dominican Republic

(End text)

Informal translation: Human Rights are the most important
victory of humanity for protecting the dignity of the
individual. With their origins in the era of the transition
to modern times, they require political attention to the
value of tolerance, the first human right to be recognized
and inscribed, in the so-called Declaration of Rights of
1688, the Bill of Rights, which serves as the legal basis for
the English system of the protection of fundamental rights.

Dr. Servio Tulio Castanos Guzman, Executive Vice President,
Institutionality and Justice Foundation (FINJUS)

(Begin original Spanish text, as published on
http://www.finjus.org.do/articulos/STC 140605.pdf)

En el mundo globalizado la tematica de los derechos humanos
ha tomado un sitial preponderante en el contexto
internacional y a lo interno de los Estados. Los Derechos
Humanos constituyen la piedra angular de las democracias
constitucionales, y en ese orden, se erigen como un baluarte
al intervencionismo estatal, es decir, constituyen un limite
al poder politico que recae en el Estado.

Dr. Servio Tulio Castanos (the "n" has a tilde accent) Guzman
Vicepresidente Ejecutivo
Fundacion Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS)

Informal translation: In the world of globalization the
theme of human rights has taken an overwhelming importance in
the international context and within countries. Human Rights
are the keystone of constitutional democracies, and as such,
they rise up as a bulwark against intervention by the
government -- that is, they constitute the limits to the
political power vested in the state.

(End text)


3. Human Rights Day activity:

Digital videoconference on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in
Latin America and the Caribbean and how to combat it, with
guest speaker Elissa Steglich, on December 8 tentatively at
11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).
Ms. Steglich is Managing Attorney, Midwest Immigrant & Human
Rights Center, Chicago IL, where among other responsibilities
she provides direct representation to victims of human
trafficking. Formerly, as Trafficking Project Officer at the
International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University
College of Law, Ms. Steglich conducted extensive field
research on trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean.
She is co-editor of "In Modern Bondage: Sex Trafficking in
the Americas" (Transnational, 2003) and has authored articles
in law journals. Ms. Steglich holds a J.D. degree (with
honors) from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A.
in English from Haverford College.
KUBISKE