Derechos Humanos / Human Rights

Yaoundé, Nov.19.– The leadership of the Catholic Church in Tanzania is in mourning following the killing of hundreds of people after thousands took to the streets to protest the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Protestors were expressing anger at a political system dominated by one party since the country attained independence in the 1960s.

The protests started in the city of Dar es Salaam on 29 October 29 and spread across the country over the following days.

Bogotá, Oct. 7 (AP).– El influyente expresidente colombiano Álvaro Uribe Vélez negó el martes cualquier vínculo con el asesinato de dos defensores de derechos humanos en 1998, luego de que una jueza pidiera a la fiscalía investigarlo por su presunta participación en el hecho.

Uribe Vélez, quien gobernó el país entre 2002 y 2010, indicó en un comunicado que se trata de una acusación “política” y enlistó lo que considera que fueron mentiras dentro del caso.

El exmandatario fue sentenciado en agosto a 12 años de prisión por un caso de soborno a testigos y fraude procesal del que también se ha declarado inocente y espera en libertad la decisión de segunda instancia.

• El país es el 14° de la región en hacerlo, después de Colombia. El movimiento feminista celebra la medida y exige políticas de prevención.
• Colombia prohíbe el matrimonio infantil: “Son niñas, no esposas” 

La Paz/Bogotá, Sep.17.– Bolivia cierra de manera definitiva la puerta al matrimonio infantil. La Asamblea Legislativa aprobó la tarde del miércoles una ley que elimina la excepción del Código de las Familias que permitía casarse a los 16 años con permiso de los padres o autorización judicial. 

La reforma busca “erradicar los matrimonios y uniones, muchos de los cuales son propiciados por acuerdos familiares que vulneran los derechos de los menores, exponiéndolos a situaciones de abuso y violencia”, de acuerdo al informe publicado por la Cámara de Diputados. El movimiento feminista aplaude una norma que empieza a sellar una gran deuda con las niñas.

International Campaign for Tibet, Sept.20.– Warm greetings from DC, where I have just returned from an inspiring trip to Dharamsala! 

High up in the Dhauladhar mountains of Northern India, the small hill town of Dharamsala is where His Holiness the Dalai Lama has established the Tibetan government-in-exile since he was forced to escape Tibet after the Chinese occupation. It’s been the heart of the Tibetan community-in-exile and the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration ever since, as well as the site of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, numerous monasteries, schools, and cultural institutions. Several thousand Tibetans live in Dharamsala, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

This is where our boards and leadership team came together to learn and strategize how we can better advance the Tibetan cause. Through meetings with key stakeholders in the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), His Holiness’ private office, and other members of Tibetan civil society, we are working to chart the way forward to be the most effective advocates for Tibet and the Tibetan people.

Close communication and a deeper understanding of the efforts of the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala are of the utmost necessity. ICT, ICT Europe, and ICT Germany staff and board were all represented as we explored how we can continue to partner with the Tibetan community-in-exile with a united front of advocacy in the US, Europe, and globally.