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(CNN Spanish) - Amnesty International warned Thursday that human rights “in much of the Americas” are under new attack, with “intolerant and increasingly authoritarian” leaders who in 2019 resorted to “increasingly violent tactics for prevent people from protesting or seeking security in other countries. ”
In presenting its annual report on the situation of human rights in the region, the non-governmental organization stressed that in the face of protest movements that emerged in 2019, the authorities responded “as a rule with repressive and often increasingly militarized tactics, in instead of establishing mechanisms to promote dialogue and address the concerns of those who expressed themselves. ”
Amnesty mentions among these countries Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, Bolivia, Haiti, Chile and Colombia, in addition to Puerto Rico,
The AI report highlights that in total, at least 210 people died violently in the context of protests in the Americas: 83 in Haiti, 47 in Venezuela, 35 in Bolivia, 31 in Chile, eight in Ecuador and six in Honduras. And he affirms that Latin America once again became the most dangerous region in the world for those who defend human rights.
Amnesty places Colombia as the most lethal country for human rights defenders, with at least 106 homicides, mostly of indigenous leaders, Afro-descendants and peasants, while the internal armed conflict continued to plague the country despite the agreements of peace.
Mexico was also mentioned by Amnesty among the countries most affected by the situation of violence, to be considered one of the deadliest countries for journalists, with at least 10 violent deaths in 2019.
Amnesty International also criticized other countries such as the United States, Peru, Ecuador and Chile, which imposed more restrictive measures for migrants who in some cases fled from the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela or who attempted to obtain asylum in the US, fleeing situations of violence in their countries of origin.
The report also highlights environmental issues, gender violence and impunity as concerns in the region.
Protests