In this month’s newsletter we have updates on Colombia’s peace process and Urgent Action required to help protect Human Rights Defenders and Trade Unionists in the South-West of the country. We also have updates from the Team’s meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Latin America where we discussed issues relating to Territorial, Land and Environmental Rights Defenders. Abuses by security forces remain a serious issue in the region with accusations of human rights violations by Chile’s security forces and accounts from the Amnesty staff in Rio on killings by military police ahead of the Rio Olympic games. We also have some good news regarding the rights of LGBTI people and the Arara Tribe in Brazil.
REGIONAL
On 20 April, we visited parliament for a meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for South America. Accompanied by Tilly Lavenas from the Mexico and Central America Team and Kieran Aldred from the AIUK office, we had a very useful discussion, focused especially on Land, Territorial and Environmental Rights Defenders, and identified ways in which we can work together to promote human rights in the region.
CHILE
We have sent you a copy of a new Amnesty report about the failure of military courts in Chile to deal adequately with allegations of human rights abuses by the Chilean security forces, especially those committed by the carabineros, the militarised police force responsible for maintaining order during public demonstrations. You can still access it here.
We are seeking a meeting with the FCO to discuss this and you can still sign the petition on Amnesty Chile’s website here. [Read more…]