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The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights 1367 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200 |
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T CONTACT: Erik Manuel Giblin (202) 463-7575 x 226 or giblin@rfkmemorial.org, Cristina Espinel (202) 997-1358, Colombia Human Rights Network. www.rfkmemorial.org
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Targeted by Death Threats
Berenice Celeyta Alayón,
1998
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate, Testifies before the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights on Human
Rights Violations in Colombia
UNITED NATIONS -- 7 March 2005 / www.MaximsNews.com
/ Last Tuesday, Berenice Celeyta Alayón, 1998 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
recipient, joined several human rights defenders
from Colombia to testify before the Inter-American Commission for Human
Rights concerning the current challenges faced by human rights workers
and labor leaders in Colombia, who experience continued harassment and
intimidation. Berenice Celeyta has been directly targeted by a death threat announced as "Operation Dragon," a surveillance plan organized, according to the Colombian Attorney General's Office, under the direction of military intelligence, and involving private security organizations. Also threatened are President of the SINTRAEMCALI Labor Union, Luis Hernández, and Colombian Congressman, Alexander Lopez, among others. "We
have come to respectfully urge the Inter-American Commission for Human
Rights as well as our friends in the United States and the international
community to request that the Colombian Government move forward with a
full investigation of Operación Dragon," stated Berenice Celeyta. Her testimony forms part of a speaking tour across several cities in the United States co-sponsored by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights and the Colombia Human Rights Network. The tour has included visits with key U.S. elected and appointed officials, as well as members of international NGOs, labor unions and civil society organizations. Co-Director of the Colombia Human Rights Network Cristina Espinel states, "We hope that this tour will create a greater understanding of the valiant work of human rights defenders amid the ongoing conflict in Colombia." Ms.
Celeyta is president of La Asociación para la Investigación y Acción
Social - NOMADESC (Association for Social Research and Action), a
non-governmental organization dedicated to working with communities in
the southwestern Colombia and the in middle Magdalena river valley, in
north-central Colombia. These communities are particularly hard-hit by violence and oppression. NOMADESC works primarily with women, trade unionists, campesinos, the Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples, and the poor generally. By
facilitating legal support, education, and accompaniment, Berenice and
her team work with affected communities to raise social awareness and
promote empowerment, and to use the civic and legal tools necessary to
non-violently defend themselves and assert their human rights. Ms. Celeyta was granted Precautionary Measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on May 25, 2001, and again on September 22, 2004, in light of the most recent threats. RFK Center for Human Rights Todd Howland affirms, "It is our hope that the Colombian government will prosecute those behind this Plan of Extermination known as "Operación Dragon" and take the necessary steps to guarantee the security of Ms. Berenice Celeyta and the other Colombian human rights defenders." Founded in 1968, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial works to realize Robert F. Kennedy's vision of social justice. In 1984, the Memorial established the Center for Human Rights (CHR) and the Human Rights Award to enhance the global nature of RFK's work and directly support defenders, known as laureates, around the world. The CHR strives to enhance the capacity of its laureates by helping marshal the resources necessary for them to increase the impact of their efforts and share the lessons of their endeavors with the international community. There are currently 35 RFK Human Rights Award laureates working in 20 countries around the world. For additional information, please visit www.rfkmemorial.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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