Diplomats push for progress on Haiti transition as death toll mounts
Reuters Diplomats at a regional Americas body on Wednesday urged Haitian politicians to move forward with a delayed plan to replace Prime Minister Ariel Henry with a transitional council, a move which could trigger the long-awaited deployment of an international security force. The transitional council – agreed with the mediation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) […]
At least 126 activists killed in Latin America in 2023 – report
Mexico City, Mexico Reuters At least 126 human rights and environmental defenders were murdered in Latin America in 2023, according to data from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) published on Tuesday, matching the previous year’s figure. The IACHR, an autonomous organ of the Washington-based Organization of American States, expressed alarm over “high rates […]
Updated: Guatemala’s Arevalo arrives to inauguration venue after hours-long delay
Updated: 5pm (AEDT) Guatemala City, Guatemala Reuters Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arevalo arrived at the site of his planned inauguration on Sunday after the ceremony was delayed for hours by hostile lawmakers, prompting international calls for the election outcome to be honoured. Arevalo shared a video of his arrival to the national theater on social media […]
Guatemala’s Arevalo says state using violence to counter protests, warns of possible ‘siege’
Guatemala City, GuatemalaReuters Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arevalo said on Monday the government is using violence to counter protests and create tension which could be used as an excuse for declaring a state of “siege,” even as the government announced tighter measures. Ongoing protests entered their eighth straight day on Monday, with Guatemalans taking to the […]
Paraguay’s conservatives score big election win, defusing Taiwan fears
Updated: 11am (AEST)Asuncion, ParaguayReuters Paraguayan conservative economist Santiago Pena, 44, won the country’s presidential election on Sunday, tightening the ruling Colorado Party’s political grip in the country and defusing fears about the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Pena, who has pledged to maintain Paraguay’s long-standing Taiwan relations, had 42.7 per cent of the vote […]
Violence against Honduran human rights defenders “alarming” – OAS group
Tegucigalpa, Honduras Reuters Honduras is one of the deadliest countries in the world for human rights defenders, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said on Friday after a visit to the Central American country. Eight human rights figures were killed in the year’s first four months, on pace to surpass the 17 killed in 2022, […]
Ex-prisoner tells diplomats Nicaragua holding families “hostage”
Reuters “I said I would hand myself in, but the police kicked down the gate,” Tamara Davila, a formerly jailed Nicaraguan activist on Wednesday told regional diplomats looking into allegations of abuses by President Daniel Ortega’s government. Davila is one of 222 political prisoners who were flown to the United States last month in a […]
OAS members recommit to helping Haiti through gang violence
Reuters The Organization of American States on Friday passed a resolution to support Haiti on its path to long-delayed elections and help the Caribbean country manage widespread gang violence that is driving a humanitarian crisis. The resolution proposed creating a working group of member states no later than 22nd February to address issues such as […]
Americas rights body turns up heat on Mexico over missing students
Mexico City, Mexico Reuters Mexico’s government still owes an explanation to the families of 43 student teachers who disappeared eight years ago, and must clear up what role the armed forces played in the crime, a top international human rights body said on Tuesday. Commissioner Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitino of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission […]
Human rights body pleads with El Salvador amid gang crackdown
San SalvadorReuters The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights doubled down on its calls Friday for El Salvador’s government to respect the rights and dignity of tens of thousands of Salvadorans detained during a nationwide state of emergency. “The Commission reiterates its call to the State to ensure that actions related to citizen and prison security […]