The Human Rights in the Americas Project seeks to build on collaborative relationships with grass-roots activists, human rights practitioners and scholars to support human rights struggles in the Americas and contribute to the development of the human rights framework of the Inter-American System for Human Rights. Joseph Berra directs the Project. Collaborative projects with community-based partners and human rights practitioners provide students with an opportunity to engage in human rights advocacy. Events and programming bring together key actors from across the Americas for dialog and shared work on key and emerging issues in human rights in the Americas.
Recent activity in the Cause of Berta Cáceres - Update: October 6, 2020
The trial against government officials accused of corruption in the case known as the “Fraud on the Gualcarque” has passed its initial phases and is schedued to begin on January 18, 2021 in Honduras. The case stems from accusations made by Berta Cáceres and COPINH against the illicit concession of the Gualcarque river to the company DESA for construction of a dam on Lenca territory, leading to the assassination of Berta Cáceres. The International Observer Mission in the Case of Berta Cáceres previously denounced the denial of COPINH’s request to participate in the trial as victim (lee la carta en español aquí | read the letter English here). The Mission is planning a forum on the importance of the trial for the rights of Indigenous people the week of January 11-stay tuned for date and time.
For background information, see International Trial Observation and Monitoring below.