Carr Center for Human Rights Policy

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The Latin American Initiative

Program Overview

In Latin America human rights abuses do not take extreme forms. Except for Argentina's Dirty War, the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, Guatemala in the recent past and in Colombia at some stage in its civil war, genocide and other mass atrocities are not a current occurrence in the region. However, there are still many pressing issues that need to be addressed. Most of these are related either to the lack of legal enforcement throughout the region or to governmental abuses in face of weakening contending powers. In order to improve these conditions, it is important that democracies are strengthened and strong legal systems put in place or reinforced.

The protection of civil and political rights as part of a human rights agenda is crucial to the region. We also believe in the importance of promoting the rights of indigenous populations, as they are some of the most marginalized groups in the region. All of these goals come together under the ideal that human rights should be coordinated internationally, within regional and global initiatives.

More on the Project >

Our Mission:

Serve as focal point (promotion, connection, awareness) for Latin American Human Rights issues within the Harvard community.
Bridge connections with national and international organizations, both academic and non-academic, regarding salient human rights issues in Latin America.
Be a source for research and teaching themes at Harvard University.
Raise awareness about impending human rights risks in the region.

Events:

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Your Ideas!

The Latin American Initiative is looking for more ways to engage the Harvard community in this region. Do you have a particular interest in the region? Looking to do Human Rights Internship in a country/area we have not announced now? Send us your ideas. Email to leonardo_vivas@hks.harvard.edu

News:

Fellow and coordinator of the Carr Center's Latin American Initiative, Leonardo Vivas, a featured speaker at "Understanding Venezuela: A review of the country's politics, the economy and social indicators," a conference sponsored by the Latin American Student Association at Columbia University. (April 9) Read More >
Guatemala, Drug Trafficking and Violence: The bloody eruption of the Mexican Zetas cartel into its territory is the latest chapter in a vicious cycle of repeated government failures, massive corruption and criminal violence that threatens the frail democracy of Guatemala, the gateway for most of the drugs reaching the U.S. from Mexico. (October 11) Read More >
Seminars and Symposia The Changing Andes: Peru and Venezuela in Perspective (September 23) Read More >

News Archive

Featured Documents

IACHR- 2010 Annual Report - VENEZUELA (4/15/2011)

The IACHR just presented its 2010 Annual Report. "With respect to Venezuela, the report examines the situation of freedom of thought and expression, the judicial branch’s lack of independence and autonomy from the political branches of government, the serious obstacles human rights defenders face in carrying out their work, and the situation of violence in prisons, among other matters. The report also notes the progress achieved in the area of economic, social, and cultural rights, both with the recognition of education, health, housing, and universal social security as constitutionally protected rights, and with implementation of policies and measures designed to correct the problems besetting vast sectors of the Venezuelan population." In it there is also special mention of the Judge Afiuni case under the section of Politically motivated removal and persecution of judges (p.526-30) For the complete report please go to the IACHR- 2010 Annual Report page at : http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2010eng/TOC.htm