Article 19 Making Progress

Article 19, which I watch for activity in Latin America, has been lobbying for a special visit to Mexico, looking at Human Rights.

The press release they issued today shows they’re making progress: Mexico: Special mandates make landmark visit to Mexico

News: Police Harass Staff and Survivors at Women’s Shelter

For immediate release

México: Policemen Harass Staff and Survivors at Women’s Shelter

ARTICLE 19 is very concerned over reports that local policemen are harassing members of staff and family violence survivors from the Woman’s Attention Centre – Centro Integral de Atención a la Mujer (CIAM). ARTICLE 19 is calling upon the local and federal authorities to effectively comply with the precautionary measures granted by the Inter American Commission of Human Rights in order to guarantee the safety of the people receiving treatment at the Centre, along with its staff members.

On May 31st, Cruz Antonio Garcia Javier, a local policeman from Benito Juarez in Cancun Quintana Roo (southeast), who has a history of inflicting physical and psychological violence on his wife and children, tried to enter CIAM to forcibly remove members from his family from the centre. His wife and children were receiving psychological and physical treatment at the centre, following six years of systematic domestic violence.

Five uniformed and armed policemen joined Garcia Javier in the harassment against the human rights defenders running the centre by using their authority and status to coerce them to hand over the woman and children. The woman sought help from CIAM when she was not granted any form of protection from the local authorities, after denouncing her husband twice.

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Being offensive to improve communication

Claire Thompson, Freelance PR Consultant, Waves PR

The Freedom of Speech Debate

Thoughts developed from an Article 19 discussion at the House of Lords, March 25, at which they effectively launched the Camden Principles. The event was organized as part of the efforts of ARTICLE 19 to strengthen dialogue and common ground between those involved in defending free expression and the right to equality.

We expect to be able to speak, write, blog and express our views, yet in reality freedom of speech is  so complex, so fraught with the minefields of personal belief and interest, and filled with such fear of giving offence, that many shy away from it.

Freedom of speech and anti-discrimination laws are often seen as clashing rights. Throw in the complexities of ownership (copyright) and defamation,  and this was always going to be an interesting discussion.

My conclusion, by the end of it, was that we need to be offended. Regularly. And learn to challenge those who offend, fighting words with words, bigotry with reason, whilst incitement to crime, on whatever grounds, should be punished. (Brave words from someone who generally shies away from harsh debate!)

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News: Central America Strengthening Freedom of Expression

Central America: Second Platform of Action for Strengthening Freedom of Expression

For immediate release – 11 May 2010

Human rights defenders and media professionals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua met in San Salvador between 22-23 April 2010 for the regional conference Second Joint Action Platform Meeting to Strengthen Freedom of Expression in Central America, sponsored by ARTICLE 19. The conference followed up on a previous meeting in July 2009, which aimed to promote and defend freedom of expression for all people in Central America.

The first conference had concluded that the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression and access to information, is deteriorating in Central America. Participants had agreed to share experience and implement a range of collective actions. These included workshops on best practice, collaborative advocacy and special submissions to the Universal Periodic Reviews of El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, all of which have been implemented over the last months.

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