Action Center - Latin America Working Group

No End to Human Rights Violations in Honduras

by Lisa Haugaard on April 16, 2010

Extremely serious human rights violations have taken place since the inauguration of Honduran President Porfirio Lobo on January 27th. Since that date, there has been a notable increase in attacks against people opposed to the June 28th coup d’état and their family members, as well as a surge in attacks against journalists. A teacher was slain in front of his class. Three campesino leaders from the community of Aguán were assassinated.

:2010, Blog Posts, Honduras, Latin America, Lisa Haugaard

Presidente Funes pide perdón en nombre del Estado salvadoreño por crimen de Monseñor Romero

by Paulo Gusmao on March 29, 2010

24 de Marzo de 2010

Hoy, como todos ustedes saben, nos une en este lugar el recuerdo imperecedero de Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, guía espiritual de nuestra Nación.

Me conmueve profundamente poder compartir este día con ustedes, porque muchas veces en mi vida pensé que nuestra Patria no alcanzaría nunca la paz si no recuperábamos la memoria de Monseñor Romero.

Lo que jamás había imaginado era que yo mismo sería uno de los protagonistas de esta recuperación, al conducir los destinos del país.

:2010, Blog Posts

I Want Guatemala to Be Known for Our Struggle to Stop Violence Against Women.

by Dominique Griffith on March 08, 2010

In Guatemala, violence against women has reached staggering levels in recent years. Since 2000, over 4,700 Guatemalan women have been brutally murdered with almost no accountability for a single perpetrator of these crimes. On March 3rd, 2010, American University hosted an event with the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC) called “Stop Femicide in Guatemala!” Internationally acclaimed human rights advocate Norma Cruz spoke with students and professors about the increasing rate of violence against women in Guatemala. The following quotes were taken from that event.

:2010, Blog Posts, Dominique Griffith, Latin America, Voces

Words Matter: An Apology for the Murder of Archbishop Romero

by Lisa Haugaard on March 29, 2010

On the 30th anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero, Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes apologized for the role of the Salvadoran government in this cataclysmic event.

His words are so moving they require no further introduction.

For text of the speech in Spanish, click here.

For a New York Times article about President Funes' speech, click here.

An English translation of the speech follows.

:2010, Blog Posts, Latin America, Lisa Haugaard

The LAWG Blog Better Than Ever

by The LAWG Team on March 03, 2010

The LAWG Blog is about to become your favorite thing since fair trade coffee. Why? Because we're ramping it up with more issues, more engaging features, and more room for your voice. Click here to check it out!

So, what's new with our blog?

:2010, Blog Posts, Latin America

Honduras: Lawyers at Risk

by Lisa Haugaard on March 26, 2010

I just listened to a group of Honduran lawyers, who were exhausted, frustrated and in fear, as they explained their efforts to defend citizens’ rights in their country.

The lawyers were here to ask for help from the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights. Their message was:

:2010, Blog Posts, Honduras, Lisa Haugaard