Human Rights Foundation: Difference between revisions
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===Bolivia=== |
===Bolivia=== |
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HRF [[Bolivia]] was established in 2008 and has issued several reports on human rights abuses in Bolivia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2008/2008-10-12/vernotaahora.php?id=081011220913 |title=Después de Goni, van más de 50 muertos |publisher=El Deber |date=2008-10-12 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20090503_006716/nota_256_805154.htm |title=Human Rights denuncia a Morales por persecución |publisher=La Razon |date=2008-10-12 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/opiniones/columnistas/20071023/la-retoma-de-viru-viru_21313_26087.html |title=La retoma de Viru Viru |publisher=Los Tiempos |date=2007-10-23|accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> HRF International participated as international observers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2008/2008-05-05/vernotaespecial.php?id=080505014122 |title=Observadores destacan el trabajo de la Corte |publisher=Eldeber.com.bo |date=2008-05-05 |accessdate=2009-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Luis Fajardo |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7383000/7383181.stm |title=BBC Mundo | América Latina | Indicios de victoria del Sí en Santa Cruz |publisher=BBC News |date= |accessdate=2009-12-04}}</ref> during the [[Santa Cruz autonomy referendum, 2008]] |
HRF [[Bolivia]] was established in 2008 and has issued several reports on human rights abuses in Bolivia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2008/2008-10-12/vernotaahora.php?id=081011220913 |title=Después de Goni, van más de 50 muertos |publisher=El Deber |date=2008-10-12 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20090503_006716/nota_256_805154.htm |title=Human Rights denuncia a Morales por persecución |publisher=La Razon |date=2008-10-12 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/opiniones/columnistas/20071023/la-retoma-de-viru-viru_21313_26087.html |title=La retoma de Viru Viru |publisher=Los Tiempos |date=2007-10-23|accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> HRF International participated as international observers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2008/2008-05-05/vernotaespecial.php?id=080505014122 |title=Observadores destacan el trabajo de la Corte |publisher=Eldeber.com.bo |date=2008-05-05 |accessdate=2009-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Luis Fajardo |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7383000/7383181.stm |title=BBC Mundo | América Latina | Indicios de victoria del Sí en Santa Cruz |publisher=BBC News |date= |accessdate=2009-12-04}}</ref> during the [[Santa Cruz autonomy referendum, 2008]] HRF International also produced several reports on political [[lynching]] in Bolivia and the assault on freedom of speech.<ref>Bolpres, Carta de HRF al Viceministro Sacha Llorenti, http://www.bolpress.com/art.php?Cod=2008020103, February 1 2009.</ref> In most instances Bolivian vice-minister for coordination of social movements Sacha Llorenti responded on behalf of the government, and expressed disagreement with HRF's position.{{Clarify|date=December 2009|She usualy responded or was usually negative or both? Source, with quote please.}}{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In April 2009 HRF Bolivia issued a preliminary report on its findings about [[2008_unrest_in_Bolivia#Pando_state_of_emergency|human rights abuses in the state of Pando]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} |
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An alleged irregular group led by [[Eduardo Rózsa-Flores]] was broken up by Police, and then-president of HRF Bolivia Hugo Acha was alleged to be linked to it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/09-09-09/noticias.php?nota=09_09_09_segu3.php&page=2 |title=Fiscal citará al hermano del prefecto Costas por caso Rózsa | LA PRENSA | LA PAZ - BOLIVIA |publisher=La Prensa |date=2009-09-09 |accessdate=2009-11-21}}</ref> Acha has denied any involvement. Government [[witness]]es withdrew their testimonies and sought asylum or are illegally imprisoned.<ref>Deas Link,http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2009/2009-07-23/vernotanacional.php?id=090723005954 july 23 2009.</ref><ref>El Nuevo Dia, "Key Witness" Declares that His Statement Was Forged and That He Never Accused Anyone, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9485, july 7 2009.</ref><ref>El Nuevo Dia, Government "Key Witness" Reveals that he was Tortured by the Bolivian Government, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9483, july 8 2009.</ref><ref>Deas Link,http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=20071.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-razon.com/Versiones/20091015_006881/nota_256_894957.htm |title=La Razón - Mendoza y Gueder ganan una acción de libertad |publisher=La-razon.com |date= |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20091114/gueder-y-mendoza-llevan-32-dias-en-celda-judicial_45239_78087.html |title=Gueder y Mendoza llevan 32 días en celda judicial |publisher=Lostiempos.com |date=2009-11-14 |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref> The [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]], [[Croatia]]n and [[Hungary|Hungarian]] governments have called for an international inquiry into the events,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0425/1224245355070.html |title=The life and death of Michael Dwyer |publisher=Irish Times |date=2009-14-25 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> while the "head of a government probe into the killings" said "the Bolivian government was not obliged to investigate. These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror."<ref>{{cite web|quote="These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror," said Cesar Navarro, head of a government probe into the killings.|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-bolivian--official-deals-blow-to-hopes-for-dwyer-probe-1916665.html |title=Top Bolivian official deals blow to hopes for Dwyer probe |publisher=Independent |date=2009-10-17 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> |
An alleged irregular group led by [[Eduardo Rózsa-Flores]] was broken up by Police, and then-president of HRF Bolivia Hugo Acha was alleged to be linked to it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/09-09-09/noticias.php?nota=09_09_09_segu3.php&page=2 |title=Fiscal citará al hermano del prefecto Costas por caso Rózsa | LA PRENSA | LA PAZ - BOLIVIA |publisher=La Prensa |date=2009-09-09 |accessdate=2009-11-21}}</ref> Acha has denied any involvement. Government [[witness]]es withdrew their testimonies and sought asylum or are illegally imprisoned.<ref>Deas Link,http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2009/2009-07-23/vernotanacional.php?id=090723005954 july 23 2009.</ref><ref>El Nuevo Dia, "Key Witness" Declares that His Statement Was Forged and That He Never Accused Anyone, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9485, july 7 2009.</ref><ref>El Nuevo Dia, Government "Key Witness" Reveals that he was Tortured by the Bolivian Government, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9483, july 8 2009.</ref><ref>Deas Link,http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=20071.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-razon.com/Versiones/20091015_006881/nota_256_894957.htm |title=La Razón - Mendoza y Gueder ganan una acción de libertad |publisher=La-razon.com |date= |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20091114/gueder-y-mendoza-llevan-32-dias-en-celda-judicial_45239_78087.html |title=Gueder y Mendoza llevan 32 días en celda judicial |publisher=Lostiempos.com |date=2009-11-14 |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref> The [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]], [[Croatia]]n and [[Hungary|Hungarian]] governments have called for an international inquiry into the events,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0425/1224245355070.html |title=The life and death of Michael Dwyer |publisher=Irish Times |date=2009-14-25 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> while the "head of a government probe into the killings" said "the Bolivian government was not obliged to investigate. These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror."<ref>{{cite web|quote="These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror," said Cesar Navarro, head of a government probe into the killings.|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-bolivian--official-deals-blow-to-hopes-for-dwyer-probe-1916665.html |title=Top Bolivian official deals blow to hopes for Dwyer probe |publisher=Independent |date=2009-10-17 |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> |
Revision as of 17:01, 7 December 2009
Founded | 2005 |
---|---|
Founder | Thor Halvorssen |
Location |
|
Area served | Americas |
Website | TheHRF.org |
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The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit organization whose stated "mission is to ensure that freedom is both preserved and promoted." in the Americas.[1] The Human Rights Foundation was founded in 2005 by Thor Halvorssen. Its head office is in New York City, New York, USA.
Organization
Its definition of human rights focuses on the essential ideals of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny and the rights of property.
HRF's website states that it adheres to the definition of human rights as put forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), believing that all individuals are entitled to the right to speak freely, the right to worship in the manner of their choice, the right to freely associate with those of like mind, the right to acquire and dispose of property, the right to leave and enter their country, the right to equal treatment and due process under law, the right to be able to participate in the government of their country, freedom from arbitrary detainment or exile, freedom from slavery and torture, and freedom from interference and coercion in matters of conscience.
HRF states that it operates transparently. It states that it makes public all of its research and that it is open to accepting new information and criticisms that might undermine its positions.[2]
HRF's Board of Directors are Thor Halvorssen (President and CEO), Ron Jacobs, Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Jr. and Robert A. Sirico.[3]
It is guided and endorsed by an International Council that includes former political prisoners Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Ramón José Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu, as well as law professor Kenneth Anderson, chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, former Estonian prime minister Mart Laar, political commentator Álvaro Vargas Llosa, and public policy professor James Q. Wilson.[4]
HRF is considered "right wing" by Venezuela, Bolivia,[5] Cuba, and Ecuador.[citation needed] Granma, the official organ of the Cuban Communist Party, considered it to be a CIA front organization.[6][7] Granma also considers Human Rights Watch a CIA front.[7]
Work
Venezuela
The Human Rights Foundation published four reports in November 2006, all case studies of human rights violations in Venezuela.[8] In January 2008, HRF researcher, Monica Fernandez, was shot and wounded in Caracas.[9] Fernandez had been described as "an enemy of the state" in Venezuelan State media.[10] HRF also maintains a "Caracas Nine" blog highlighting cases of human rights violations.[11]
In 2007 HRF protested the refusal to renew RCTV television station's broadcasting licence by the government. HRF created a website that features information, and a video on censorship, in connection with this.[12] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed concern about the failure to renew the licence.[13]
Dominican Republic
HRF provided part of the funding for the documentary film "The Sugar Babies: The Plight of the Children of Agricultural Workers in the Sugar Industry". It was first screened at Florida International University on June 27, 2007. The documentary about human trafficking of Haitians in the Dominican Republic drew protest from the Fanjul family, one of the largest beneficiaries of the human trafficking depicted in the film, with a sugar empire that dwarfs the US Sugar Corporation. [14] [15]
Ecuador
In March 2008 HRF wrote to Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa asking for the release of the imprisoned, governor of the province of Orellana, Guadalupe Llori implying that the charges against her were politically motivated.[16] Later in March Amnesty International declared that governor Guadalupe Llori may be a prisoner of conscience and a political prisoner[17] and in June HRF declared they considered her both.[18] According to HRF Llori was imprisoned on trumped up terrorism charges by the government.[19] She was sent to El Inca prison where she remained for about ten months. HRF filed a communication with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, pleading that it activate its urgent action procedure and send an appeal to the government of Ecuador for the immediate release of political prisoner Guadalupe Llori.[20] HRF visited her in prison.[21] She was eventually freed after an intense international campaign and credited HRF with her release.[22] She was re-elected governor of Orellana in April 2009.[23]
Bolivia
HRF Bolivia was established in 2008 and has issued several reports on human rights abuses in Bolivia.[24][25][26] HRF International participated as international observers[27][28] during the Santa Cruz autonomy referendum, 2008 HRF International also produced several reports on political lynching in Bolivia and the assault on freedom of speech.[29] In most instances Bolivian vice-minister for coordination of social movements Sacha Llorenti responded on behalf of the government, and expressed disagreement with HRF's position.[clarification needed][citation needed] In April 2009 HRF Bolivia issued a preliminary report on its findings about human rights abuses in the state of Pando.[citation needed]
An alleged irregular group led by Eduardo Rózsa-Flores was broken up by Police, and then-president of HRF Bolivia Hugo Acha was alleged to be linked to it.[30] Acha has denied any involvement. Government witnesses withdrew their testimonies and sought asylum or are illegally imprisoned.[31][32][33][34][35][36] The Irish, Croatian and Hungarian governments have called for an international inquiry into the events,[37] while the "head of a government probe into the killings" said "the Bolivian government was not obliged to investigate. These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror."[38]
In June three, of the seven founding HRF (Bolivia) board members resigned.[39] Subsequently a new board was formed naming as president Lidia Gueiler Tejada, a former Bolivian president who was overthrown in a right-wing military coup d'etat. [40]
Oslo Freedom Forum
HRF organized the Oslo Freedom Forumin May 2009, where freedom, democracy and human rights activists,[41] such as Park Sang-hak,[42] exposed their views about human rights in the world today. Other participants included holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Buddhist monk Palden Gyatso, Amnesty International Norway Director John Peder Egnaes, British Royal Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York, and Harry Wu.
Honduras
Following the 2009 Honduran coup d'état that deposed President Manuel Zelaya, HRF requested to all member states of the Organization of American States the application of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the suspension of the government that ousted President Zelaya.[43] The, then, chairman of HRF Armando Valladares resigned on July 2nd 2009 because of this.[44]
In addition, HRF published a report, called "The facts and the law behind the democratic crisis in Honduras 2009",[45] in which it concluded that the Organization of American States had acted correctly, in activating the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and incorrectly, in its diplomatic actions to revert the military coup.[46]
References
- ^ "Mission". Human Rights Foundation. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ HRF's Transparency. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- ^ "Human Rights Foundation - Board of Directors". Thehrf.org. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ "Human Rights Foundation - International Council". Thehrf.org. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ "Hemeroteca - Ediciones anteriores del periódico Los Tiempos". Lostiempos.com. 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ "granma.cu". granma.cu. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ a b "granma.cu". granma.cu. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ Reports. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- ^ "Mónica Fernández herida en suceso producido en la urbanización El Márques". El Universal. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "» Destacan que el día antes del suceso, la vilipendiaron en La Hojilla en". Noticias24.com. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ "Blog". Caracas Nine. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ "FREERCTV.COM - Short Film on Censorship". Human Rights Foundation. 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ "Iachr concerned about freedom of expression in venezuela". Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. May 25, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Sugar Babies Screening. Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ "Sweet Truth: A filmmaker's exposé peeves the sugar powers". Miami News. May 28, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Carta al Presidente Rafael Correa sobre la detencion de Guadalupe Llori" (PDF). Human Rights Foundation. March 18th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Guadalupe Llori (f), governor (prefecta) of the province of Orellana". Amnesty International. March 25th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Human Rights Foundation responds to President Correa's accusations and declares Guadalupe Llori a political prisoner of Ecuador's government". Human Rights Foundation. June 18th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Ecuador Denies Opposition Politician Her Freedom; Government Dealings with FARC Reveal Double Standard". Human Rights Foundation. March 17th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "HRF pide a la ONU que solicite la liberación inmediata de Guadalupe Llori". EFE. September 9th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Delegados de DD.HH. visitaron a G. Llori". El Comercio. September 18th, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ ""Soy la primera víctima de la Revolución Ciudadana": Guadalupe Llori". El Tiempo (Ecuador). 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- ^ "Votación de la Provincia de ORELLANA para Candidatos a PREFECTO PROVINCIAL". Consejo Nacional Electoral. April 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Después de Goni, van más de 50 muertos". El Deber. 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
- ^ "Human Rights denuncia a Morales por persecución". La Razon. 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
- ^ "La retoma de Viru Viru". Los Tiempos. 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
- ^ "Observadores destacan el trabajo de la Corte". Eldeber.com.bo. 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ Luis Fajardo. "BBC Mundo | América Latina | Indicios de victoria del Sí en Santa Cruz". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ Bolpres, Carta de HRF al Viceministro Sacha Llorenti, http://www.bolpress.com/art.php?Cod=2008020103, February 1 2009.
- ^ "Fiscal citará al hermano del prefecto Costas por caso Rózsa | LA PRENSA | LA PAZ - BOLIVIA". La Prensa. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ Deas Link,http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2009/2009-07-23/vernotanacional.php?id=090723005954 july 23 2009.
- ^ El Nuevo Dia, "Key Witness" Declares that His Statement Was Forged and That He Never Accused Anyone, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9485, july 7 2009.
- ^ El Nuevo Dia, Government "Key Witness" Reveals that he was Tortured by the Bolivian Government, http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=9483, july 8 2009.
- ^ Deas Link,http://www.eldia.com.bo/index.php?cat=150&pla=3&id_articulo=20071.
- ^ "La Razón - Mendoza y Gueder ganan una acción de libertad". La-razon.com. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ "Gueder y Mendoza llevan 32 días en celda judicial". Lostiempos.com. 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ "The life and death of Michael Dwyer". Irish Times. 2009-14-25. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Top Bolivian official deals blow to hopes for Dwyer probe". Independent. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
"These people didn't come here as tourists, they came here to cause terror," said Cesar Navarro, head of a government probe into the killings.
- ^ "La Paz - Bolivia". La Prensa. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ La Razon, Gueiler preside HRF en Bolivia, http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20090606_006750/nota_256_824553.htm, june 6 2009
- ^ "Anti-NK Group to Attend Oslo Freedom Forum". KBS World. 2009/05/16. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
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(help); Text "" ignored (help) - ^ "Storm looms over N Korea balloons". BBC. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
{{cite news}}
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(help); Text "" ignored (help) - ^ "Human Rights demanda suspensión del Gobierno que derrocó a Zelaya". Opinion Bolivia. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ Armando Valladares. "Mídia Sem Máscara - Armando Valladares renuncia à Human Rights Foundation". Midiasemmascara.org. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ "Los hechos y el derecho detrás de la crisis democrática de Honduras, 2009" (PDF). HRF. 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ ""OEA actuó de forma incorrecta en crisis"". Diario La Prensa. 2009-11-27. Retrieved 2009-12-04.