WOLA        WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA

The Washington Office on Latin America is pleased to invite you to a special seminar:

Human Rights in Venezuela

Thursday, October 20, 2005

3:00 – 6:00 pm

At the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Root Room (2nd Floor)

1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N

Few issues in Venezuela are unaffected by the country’s fiercely polarized politics, and human rights questions are no exception.  A large delegation of Venezuelan human rights groups will be in Washington for the sessions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).  The group will take advantage of the opportunity to address a wider Washington audience on a range of controversial human rights issues in Venezuela.  Each panel discussion will include ample time for questions and comments from the audience.  

Remarks will be in Spanish, and professional simultaneous interpretation will be provided.  If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Katie Malouf (kmalouf@wola.org or 202-797-2171).

 Preliminary Agenda

3:00 pm           Welcome and Opening Remarks

3:05–4:15        PANEL I:  Justice and Impunity – Prisons – Rights of Campesinos

·        Justice Institutions

Pedro Nikken, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Carlos Ayala, Comisión Andina de Juristas

·        Impunity and Para-Police Groups

Liliana Ortega, COFAVIC (Comité de Familiares de Víctimas de Febrero – Marzo 1989)

 

·        Situation of Detainees and Prisoners

Humberto Prado, Observatorio Nacional de Prisiones          

·        Rights of Campesinos

Marino Alvarado, PROVEA (Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos)

4:20-5:30         PANEL II:  Freedom of Expression – Human Rights Defenders

·        Freedom of Expression

Carlos Correa, PROVEA (Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos) and Espacio Público

Andrés Cañizáles, Instituto Prensa y Sociedad

 

·        Situation of Human Rights Defenders

Maria Gabriela Cuevas, Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello

Jose Gregorio Guarenas, Vicaría de Derechos Humanos de la Arquidiócesis de Caracas

5:35-6:00         Concluding Observation

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Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
1630 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20009
tel (202)797-2171 fax (202)797-2172
www.wola.org