Urgent Action

145 Organizations Call on US & Mesoamerican Presidents to Reevaluate Regional Security Policies

As Heads of State from Mexico, Central America and the United States prepare to meet for the Summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA) in Costa Rica on May 4 and 5th, JASS (Just Associates), the America's Program, the Guatemala Human Rights Commission-USA and the Center for Economic and Policy Research collaborated, with others, to present a letter that has been signed by over 160 international, regional and local organizations from 10 countries in the Americas. The letter addresses civil society concerns about security issues, human rights violations, violence against men and women human rights defenders, among others.
It is time to refocus regional dialogue and resource investment to address the root causes of violence, understanding that for many citizens and communities, drug trafficking is not the principal cause of insecurity. Harmful “development” policies have similarly caused increased conflict and abuses, while forced migration and criminalization of migrants and human rights activists continues to divide families. Most importantly, the region’s challenges must be addressed without violating fundamental rights and human dignity.

Concretely, the letter provides analysis and recommendations related to:

  • Militarization in the name of addressing the drug war which has caused unprecedented levels of violence while failing to provide citizen security.
  • The imposition of large-scale extractive projects on marginalized communities do not constitute “development.”
  • Violations of migrants’ rights and the lack of consideration of root cause of migration in policies.

View the letter in English and Spanish

Mobilizing Support in Mexico & Central America

JASS Mesoamerica and our allies have organized a series of press conferences and actions around the presentation of the letter to media and government officials in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica starting on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. 

PRESS CONFERENCES - April 30, 2013

Mexico: Organized by JASS Mesoamerica, Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, Movimiento Migrante Mesoamericano, Red Todos los Derechos para Todos y Todas, Centro Pro, Red Mesa de Ciudad Juárez and Consorcio Oaxaca

Mexico City, 11am (12pm EST) -- Media contact: Atziri Ávila; atziriavila@gmail.com

Guatemala: Organized by UDEFEGUA, Seguridad en Democracia (SEDEM), Equipo de estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial (ECAP), Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales (ICCPG) y Centro de Análisis Forense y Ciencias Aplicadas (CAFCA) and Guatemala Human Rights Commission

Guatemala City, 11am (12pm EST) -- Media contact: Claudia Samayoa; csamayoa@gmail.com

PRESENTATIONS

Honduras: JASS Mesoamerica, Center for Women’s Rights (CDM), Center for Women’s Studies-Honduras (CEM-H) and the National WHRD Network will meet with the US Embassy to officially present the letter and have invited media to attend an informal set of interviews outside the Embassy.

Tegucigalpa, Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 10am (12pm EST) -- Media contact: Neesa Medina; neesa952@gmail.com and Daysi Flores; floresday.jass@gmail.com

Costa Rica: JASS allies - La Liga Internacional de Mujeres pro Paz y Libertad and el Centro de Amigos para la Paz - will meet with the Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs on May 2, 2013 at 11am local time to present the letter (the Minister will participate in the SICA meeting).

Country:

  • Belize
  • Costa Rica
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • United States

Region:

  • JASS Mesoamerica
  • JASS Crossregional

Topics:

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