“Last year was probably one of the worst years for human rights in the last three decades.” That’s how blunt it was Jose Miguel Vivanco, Director for the Americas of Human Rights Watch (HRW) when describing the situation in Latin America regarding the violation of fundamental rights. The director specifically referred to the region in the framework of the launch of the 31st annual report of the organization.
Mexico and Brazil are among the countries of greatest concern to HRW in the region, in addition to the cases of Cuba and Venezuela.
During 2020 there has been an absence of leadership for the cause of human rights, notorious because the two giants of Latin America, the most populous countries, with the greatest weight and that exercise enormous influence, are led by populist leaders and demagogues.
José Miguel Vivanco, Director for the Americas of HRW
Although the government of Mexico – led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), and Brazil – led by Jair Bolsonaro – are ideologically opposed, “In both cases there is a deep contempt for democratic values, human rights, public freedoms and the rule of law”, he pointed.
The report states that during the mandate of AMLO, members of the security forces have continued to exercise violations of human rights, which include cases of torture, forced disappearances and abuses against migrants.
Vivanco said that during AMLO’s mandate 23 journalists have been killed. “Freedom of the press and information has suffered great losses, especially by those leaders who govern as leaders, such as AMLO in Mexico and Bolsonaro in Brazil,” Vivanco denounced.
The report assures that the government has not provided adequate protection to the 66,000 people seeking asylum in the United States. “Many have taken refuge in makeshift camps or overcrowded shelters along the US-Mexico border.”
The report states that Bolsonaro “tried to sabotage public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of covid-19, but the Supreme Court, Congress and governors maintained policies to protect Brazilians.”
The Brazilian President has been openly contrary to laws related to environmental issues and sexual minorities. For this reason, the country has reigned climate of hostility towards those who defend these causes.
With regard to safety, the report dictates that “In 2019, the police killed 6,357 people, one of the highest homicide rates in the world.” In the first half of 2020 this figure increased by 6%.
The report says that among the challenges the country must face are the prison conditions and the protection of the rights of women, indigenous peoples and sexual minorities.
HRW criticized the “Excessive use of force” by the Carabineros during the protests and also the manner in which alleged abuses by the police are investigated, since many times the reports are made by carabinieri who are temporarily assigned this mission.
“These internal investigations do not have the due autonomy and independence that allows them to carry out serious and rigorous investigations because they are limited by the certain probability that tomorrow, when they return to their normal duties as police officers, they will run into those hierarchical superiors who were investigating” , Vivanco affirms. In addition, HRW considered that a police reform is necessary.
HRW states that Impunity for past abuses, limitation of reproductive rights, extreme poverty and isolation of indigenous communities they are part of the main human rights problems existing in Colombia.
Furthermore, the government has not been able to take the necessary measures to protect the population threatened by guerrillas and paramilitaries.
The government of Daniel Ortega is described by HRW as a dictatorship.
–
