This month we bring you news from the Region, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Highlights are:

• Regional: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled that governments have a legal obligation to tackle climate change.
• Colombia: A law was passed a year ago recognising the work and rights of women searchers for victims of enforced disappearance, Amnesty has expressed concern that implementation is still pending. 
• Venezuela: A new report by Amnesty says Venezuelan authorities continue to commit enforced disappearances as part of the policy of the repression of dissidents
• Peru: Amnesty has strongly criticised a new bill, which proposes granting amnesty to members of the Armed Forces, the Police, and other State officials who have not received a final sentence in “cases related to the fight against terrorism in the period 1980-2000”.
• Ecuador: Human Rights Watch has stated that new laws passed by Ecuador’s National Assembly and signed by President Daniel Noboa include dangerous provisions that threaten the rights of Ecuadorians.
• Brazil: Human Rights Watch has called on Brazilian legislators to reject a new bill which dismantles environmental licensing requirements and, if approved, could accelerate oil and gas extraction, cattle ranching and deforestation in the Amazon.
• Bolivia: The UN human rights office has called for an investigation into the deaths of six people during clashes between police and supporters of former president Evo Morales that have deepened Bolivia’s political and economic crisis.
• Argentina: The son of Graciela Alicia Romero and Raul Eugenio Metz, two of the 30,000 Argentinians who “disappeared” during the dictatorship, has become the 140th child found by Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
• Chile: The government is presenting a bill to Congress to decriminalize abortion up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

REGIONAL

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that governments have a legal obligation to tackle climate change. States have a duty under international law to prevent, mitigate and remedy environmental harm that threatens human rights, including through laws, policies and actions aimed at curbing climate change. “States now have clear guidance and can no longer claim ignorance of their human rights obligations… now is the time for immediate, concrete, and positive action to urgently tackle the climate crisis.” said Ana Piquer, Regional Director for the Americas at Amnesty International

COLOMBIA

While acknowledging that Colombia has been the first country in the world to approve a law recognising the work and rights of women searchers for victims of enforced disappearance, Amnesty has expressed  concern that implementation is still pending one year after the passing of the law.  Organisations of women searchers have drawn attention to the risks and threats involved in this activity.  Between 100,000 and 200,000 persons have been forcibly disappeared in Colombia and even today one person disappears every 36 hours. [Read more…]