2005/11/15
Latin America united in defence of the rights
Francisco Yofre
Radio Comunitaria la Tribu
More than 25 civil society organisations from Latin America participated in the programme on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) organised by Social Watch and Dignity International and held in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay from 7 to 15 November 2005.
The rich
exchange of work experiences and the analysis of concrete study cases through
varied methodologies provided the participants with an important set of tools
for the diagnosis of the present human rights situation in the continent.
Current mechanisms to defend and make all human rights exigible were also
addressed.
In the summing
up session, voices coincided in the need of replicating the course among
grassroots organisations in order to strengthen the lobbying of governments for
the adoption of policies aiming at integrating human rights when it comes to
tackle poverty and to centre these policies in dignity for all persons.
During the
course the use of judicial and extrajudicial mechanisms provided in
International Covenants and Treaties as well as in national Constitutions was
stressed for the defence of human rights. The access to land and adequate
housing, discrimination based on sex, social or ethnic reasons, access to social
security, to health, to an environment, to water and food security were some of
the issues especially addressed during the course. States have the inevitable
obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights.
The programme
counted with the priceless collaboration of facilitators from COHRE (Centre on
Housing Rights and Evictions) Americas Programme and DECA Equipo Pueblo, Mexico.
The participants highlighted the “excellent” organisation of the event and the
wide and varied bibliography that complemented the work of the coordinators.
More
information available at:
LINKING & LEARNING PROGRAMME
ON ESC RIGHTS FOR THE LATIN AMERICA REGION
Dignity
International
http://www.dignityinternational.org/
Radio
Comunitaria la Tribu
Buenos Aires, Argentina
http://www.fmlatribu.com
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