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