This month, we bring you news from Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. We also welcome Carolina Beresford as the new Country Coordinator for Colombia and Brazil.
Highlights are:
- Colombia: Two Urgent Actions are calling for the protection and ending of harassment of FEDEPESAN and its members, and for health authorities to control a severe health outbreak threatening the Bari people urgently.
- Brazil: Brazil has passed a landmark law to protect children online.
- Venezuela: Human Rights Watch has issued a new report outlining that dozens of political prisoners have been held incommunicado for weeks, months, and some for over a year.
- Ecuador: A new Amnesty International report reveals how a massive deployment of the Armed Forces has facilitated enforced disappearances, leaving entire families in limbo
- Argentina: Argentina has renounced its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council.
- Chile: A UN committee has questioned how the State will guarantee indigenous peoples’ rights to land and ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation
COLOMBIA

Amnesty International has issued a new Urgent Action calling for the protection of the Federation of Artisanal, Environmentalist, and Tourist Fishers of Santander (FEDEPESAN) and its members, and to end the harassment suffered by the fisher community. Between June and August, 26 fisher families from the area of San Silvestre, Barrancabermeja, were forcibly displaced after threats to their safety. The FEDEPESAN president, Yuly Velásquez, received direct death threats to her phone. Despite ongoing legal actions, FEDEPESAN member Janeth Millán was evicted from her home and assaulted by police. The Urgent Action is now on the AIUK site.
Another new Amnesty Urgent Action calls on the Colombian health authorities to urgently control a severe health outbreak with measures that respect the Bari People’s rights to health and informed, prior consent. In the Bridikayra settlement of the Bari Indigenous People in Catatumbo, dozens are suffering from fever, pain and haemorrhages, and in August, a child died after showing these symptoms. Living far from urban centres and not being provided with health services puts them at further risk. The Urgent Action is now on the AIUK site. With both actions, please copy in the Colombian Ambassador to the UK. [Read more…]