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| ==Methodology== | ==Methodology== | ||
| The Human Rights Foundation operates by its own definition of ]. According to the organisation's website, this means that it is willing to make public all of its research and it claims to be open to accepting new information and criticisms that might undermine its positions.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.</ref> However, in spite of these claims, the HRF does not publish annual financial reports and accounts (the latest accounts found on the HRF website are for 2006) nor information about who funds the organisation.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved May 2009.</ref> | The Human Rights Foundation operates by its own definition of ]. According to the organisation's website, this means that it is willing to make public all of its research and it claims to be open to accepting new information and criticisms that might undermine its positions.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.</ref> However, in spite of these claims, the HRF does not publish annual financial reports and accounts (the latest accounts found on the HRF website are for 2006) nor information about who funds the organisation.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved May 2009.</ref> | ||
| ==Projects== | |||
| ⚫ | The Human Rights Foundation published four reports in November 2006, all case studies of human rights violations in Venezuela.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | HRF is also in the midst of starting university campus branches willing to support and sponsor events concerning HRF's mission, to support freedom in the Americas. The first campus to begin a branch of the Human Rights Foundation is ] in ]. | ||
| ⚫ | The Human Rights Foundation screened its documentary film "The Sugar Babies: The Plight of the Children of Agricultural Workers in the Sugar Industry", at ] on June 27th, 2007. The documentary about ] of ] in the ] drew protest from both ] government officials and from the ] family, one of the largest beneficiaries of the ] depicted in the film, with a sugar empire that dwarfs the U.S. Sugar Corporation. | ||
| ⚫ | <ref> Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 11 July 2007.</ref> | ||
| ==International Council== | ==International Council== | ||
| The International Council of the Human Rights Foundation includes former political prisoners ], ], ], ], ], and ], as well as law professor ], chess grandmaster ], former Estonian prime minister ], political commentator ], and public policy professor ]. | The International Council of the Human Rights Foundation includes former political prisoners ], ], ], ], ], and ], as well as law professor ], chess grandmaster ], former Estonian prime minister ], political commentator ], and public policy professor ]. | ||
| ==Controversies== | ==Projects, Cases and Controversies== | ||
| ===Human Rights in Venezuela=== | |||
| ⚫ | The Human Rights Foundation published four reports in November 2006, all case studies of human rights violations in Venezuela.<ref> Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.</ref> | ||
| ===University Work=== | |||
| ⚫ | HRF is also in the midst of starting university campus branches willing to support and sponsor events concerning HRF's mission, to support freedom in the Americas. The first campus to begin a branch of the Human Rights Foundation is ] in ]. | ||
| ===Defense of Guadalupe Llori in Ecuador=== | ===Defense of Guadalupe Llori in Ecuador=== | ||
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| The Human Rights Foundation published a blistering defense of Human Rights Watch Latin America driector after he was reffered to as a "defender," "agent," and "accomplice" of the ] rebel organization in Colombia. HRF chairman called on President Uribe to apologize. | The Human Rights Foundation published a blistering defense of Human Rights Watch Latin America driector after he was reffered to as a "defender," "agent," and "accomplice" of the ] rebel organization in Colombia. HRF chairman called on President Uribe to apologize. | ||
| ===National Review Symposium on Augusto Pinochet=== | |||
| After the death of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in December of 2006 the American conservative magazine National Review invited five writers to submit articles about the legacy of Pinochet. HRF's staffmember Thor Halvorssen wrote one of the articles and caused furor in the conservative magazine when he disagreed with all of the other writers--who praised Pinochet--and instead attacked him as a "torturer" and "murderer." Dozens of commentators and bloggers covered the controversy with all of them praising HRF for its unequivocal position on a dictator whether left or right wing: "He shut down parliament, suffocated political life, banned trade unions, and made Chile his sultanate. His government disappeared 3,000 opponents, arrested 30,000 (torturing thousands of them), and controlled the country until 1990. ... Pinochet’s name will forever be linked to the Desaparecidos, the Caravan of Death, and the institutionalized torture that took place in the Villa Grimaldi complex." | |||
| ===Support for RCTV television against shutdown in Venezuela=== | ===Support for RCTV television against shutdown in Venezuela=== | ||
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| ===Documentary Film Controversy Involving Slave Trafficking in Dominican Republic=== | ===Documentary Film Controversy Involving Slave Trafficking in Dominican Republic=== | ||
| ⚫ | The Human Rights Foundation screened its documentary film "The Sugar Babies: The Plight of the Children of Agricultural Workers in the Sugar Industry", at ] on June 27th, 2007. The documentary about ] of ] in the ] drew protest from both ] government officials and from the ] family, one of the largest beneficiaries of the ] depicted in the film, with a sugar empire that dwarfs the U.S. Sugar Corporation. | ||
| ⚫ | <ref> Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 11 July 2007.</ref> | ||
| HRF was strongly attacked by the government of the Dominican Republic for producing a documentary that alleged that the country's two richest families: Vicini and Fanjul billionaires had engaged in human trafficking from Dominican Republic. The Human Rights Foundation was criticized as anti-capitalist and as being part of an enormous campaign of defamation against the Dominican Republic. Subsequently, the American media published allegations that the Dominican government has engaged in bribery of journalists reviewing the film to give the film a bad review. | HRF was strongly attacked by the government of the Dominican Republic for producing a documentary that alleged that the country's two richest families: Vicini and Fanjul billionaires had engaged in human trafficking from Dominican Republic. The Human Rights Foundation was criticized as anti-capitalist and as being part of an enormous campaign of defamation against the Dominican Republic. Subsequently, the American media published allegations that the Dominican government has engaged in bribery of journalists reviewing the film to give the film a bad review. | ||
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| In April 2009, a member of a local chapter of the HRF office in Bolivia was implicated in the funding of illegal ] operating in ], who were apparently planning to assasinate the ] ] and other political leaders in the country. The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, threatened HRF's Bolivian members with jail and its foreign members with expulsion from the country. The ] in charge of investigating the case of the mercenaries, who were apprehended by the Bolivian police, identified ], the director of the ] branch of the HRF as a target of the assassination plot. Subsequently he identified him as an associate of the mercenary cell. Then, the prosecutor claimed that Acha had acted as a conduit for the funding of the group.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>. HRF countered with that its numerous reports and criticism of the Bolivian government for its human rights violations is what prompted these attacks. HRF stated that it welcomes a transparent and complete investigation of the accusations of links to the separatist organizations. Thus far no proof whatsoever has emerged of any links between HRF and a separatist or mercenary organization. | In April 2009, a member of a local chapter of the HRF office in Bolivia was implicated in the funding of illegal ] operating in ], who were apparently planning to assasinate the ] ] and other political leaders in the country. The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, threatened HRF's Bolivian members with jail and its foreign members with expulsion from the country. The ] in charge of investigating the case of the mercenaries, who were apprehended by the Bolivian police, identified ], the director of the ] branch of the HRF as a target of the assassination plot. Subsequently he identified him as an associate of the mercenary cell. Then, the prosecutor claimed that Acha had acted as a conduit for the funding of the group.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>. HRF countered with that its numerous reports and criticism of the Bolivian government for its human rights violations is what prompted these attacks. HRF stated that it welcomes a transparent and complete investigation of the accusations of links to the separatist organizations. Thus far no proof whatsoever has emerged of any links between HRF and a separatist or mercenary organization. | ||
| ===Accusations by the official newspaper of the Cuban Government=== | ===Accusations by the official newspaper of the Cuban Government=== | ||
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| A vice-minister of Bolivia claimed that the Human Rights Foundation did not have a license to operate in Bolivia.<ref></ref> The Human Rights Foundation's New York office countered by stating that the Vice-minister was "lying" and published a press release referring to the local chapter's legal paperwork. | A vice-minister of Bolivia claimed that the Human Rights Foundation did not have a license to operate in Bolivia.<ref></ref> The Human Rights Foundation's New York office countered by stating that the Vice-minister was "lying" and published a press release referring to the local chapter's legal paperwork. | ||
| ==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 15:40, 5 May 2009
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit organization that works on “defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy in the Americas.” The Human Rights Foundation was founded in 2005 by film producer Thor Halvorssen. Its offices are in New York City.
Philosophy
The Human Rights Foundation maintains that although current debates about whether it is possible to define universal economic and cultural rights are useful and important, those debates tend to divide those who would otherwise be strong allies in the struggle for rights. Its definition of human rights sidesteps those debates, focusing instead on the essential ideals of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny.
Accordingly, the Human Rights Foundation adheres to the definition of human rights as put forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), believing that all individuals are entitled to the right to speak freely, the right to worship in the manner of their choice, the right to freely associate with those of like mind, the right to acquire and dispose of property, the right to leave and enter their country, the right to equal treatment and due process under law, the right to be able to participate in the government of their country, freedom from arbitrary detainment or exile, freedom from slavery and torture, and freedom from interference and coercion in matters of conscience.
In particular, the Human Rights Foundation seeks to sustain the struggle for liberty in those areas where it is presently under threat.
Methodology
The Human Rights Foundation operates by its own definition of transparency. According to the organisation's website, this means that it is willing to make public all of its research and it claims to be open to accepting new information and criticisms that might undermine its positions. However, in spite of these claims, the HRF does not publish annual financial reports and accounts (the latest accounts found on the HRF website are for 2006) nor information about who funds the organisation.
International Council
The International Council of the Human Rights Foundation includes former political prisoners Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón José Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu, as well as law professor Kenneth Anderson, chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, former Estonian prime minister Mart Laar, political commentator Álvaro Vargas Llosa, and public policy professor James Q. Wilson.
Projects, Cases and Controversies
Human Rights in Venezuela
The Human Rights Foundation published four reports in November 2006, all case studies of human rights violations in Venezuela.
University Work
HRF is also in the midst of starting university campus branches willing to support and sponsor events concerning HRF's mission, to support freedom in the Americas. The first campus to begin a branch of the Human Rights Foundation is George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
Defense of Guadalupe Llori in Ecuador
The Human Rights Foundation declared governor Guadalupe Llori a prisoner of conscience and political prisoner. Llori was imprisoned by order of Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa for permitting demonstrations that paralyzed oil production in Orellana state. She was sent to El Inca prison where she remained for several months. She was eventually freed after an intense international campaign and credited HRF with her release. She was re-elected governor of Orellana in April of 2009.
Defense of Jose Miguel Vivanco and criticism of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
The Human Rights Foundation published a blistering defense of Human Rights Watch Latin America driector after he was reffered to as a "defender," "agent," and "accomplice" of the FARC rebel organization in Colombia. HRF chairman called on President Uribe to apologize.
National Review Symposium on Augusto Pinochet
After the death of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in December of 2006 the American conservative magazine National Review invited five writers to submit articles about the legacy of Pinochet. HRF's staffmember Thor Halvorssen wrote one of the articles and caused furor in the conservative magazine when he disagreed with all of the other writers--who praised Pinochet--and instead attacked him as a "torturer" and "murderer." Dozens of commentators and bloggers covered the controversy with all of them praising HRF for its unequivocal position on a dictator whether left or right wing: "He shut down parliament, suffocated political life, banned trade unions, and made Chile his sultanate. His government disappeared 3,000 opponents, arrested 30,000 (torturing thousands of them), and controlled the country until 1990. ... Pinochet’s name will forever be linked to the Desaparecidos, the Caravan of Death, and the institutionalized torture that took place in the Villa Grimaldi complex."
Support for RCTV television against shutdown in Venezuela
The Human Right Foundation was criticized for coming to the defense of RCTV television in Venezuela after its broadcast license was pulled. The Chavez government claimed RCTV was a "coup-plotting" television station and shut it down. HRF created a site that features information about the shutdown, a countdown, and a video of Hugo Chavez's comments on press critics.
Support for autonomy referendum in Bolivia
The Human Rights Foundation was criticized for sending observers to the local referendum on autonomy which took place in Santa Cruz in May 2008. The government of Evo Morales declared the referendum as illegal and unconstitutional. However, despite the politicization of the discussion on whether or not the referendum was legal, this electoral process complied with Bolivian legislation.
Documentary Film Controversy Involving Slave Trafficking in Dominican Republic
The Human Rights Foundation screened its documentary film "The Sugar Babies: The Plight of the Children of Agricultural Workers in the Sugar Industry", at Florida International University on June 27th, 2007. The documentary about human trafficking of Haitians in the Dominican Republic drew protest from both Dominican government officials and from the Fanjul family, one of the largest beneficiaries of the human trafficking depicted in the film, with a sugar empire that dwarfs the U.S. Sugar Corporation.
HRF was strongly attacked by the government of the Dominican Republic for producing a documentary that alleged that the country's two richest families: Vicini and Fanjul billionaires had engaged in human trafficking from Dominican Republic. The Human Rights Foundation was criticized as anti-capitalist and as being part of an enormous campaign of defamation against the Dominican Republic. Subsequently, the American media published allegations that the Dominican government has engaged in bribery of journalists reviewing the film to give the film a bad review.
Alleged links with separatists in Bolivia
In April 2009, a member of a local chapter of the HRF office in Bolivia was implicated in the funding of illegal mercenaries operating in Bolivia, who were apparently planning to assasinate the Bolivian president Evo Morales and other political leaders in the country. The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, threatened HRF's Bolivian members with jail and its foreign members with expulsion from the country. The public prosecutor in charge of investigating the case of the mercenaries, who were apprehended by the Bolivian police, identified Hugo Achá, the director of the Santa Cruz branch of the HRF as a target of the assassination plot. Subsequently he identified him as an associate of the mercenary cell. Then, the prosecutor claimed that Acha had acted as a conduit for the funding of the group.. HRF countered with that its numerous reports and criticism of the Bolivian government for its human rights violations is what prompted these attacks. HRF stated that it welcomes a transparent and complete investigation of the accusations of links to the separatist organizations. Thus far no proof whatsoever has emerged of any links between HRF and a separatist or mercenary organization.
Accusations by the official newspaper of the Cuban Government
Granma, the official Cuban newspaper, accused HRF of being a CIA organization and a terrorist group.
Accusations of not having proper paperwork in Bolivia
A vice-minister of Bolivia claimed that the Human Rights Foundation did not have a license to operate in Bolivia. The Human Rights Foundation's New York office countered by stating that the Vice-minister was "lying" and published a press release referring to the local chapter's legal paperwork.
Notes
- Mission. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- HRF's Transparency. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- HRF's Transparency. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved May 2009.
- Reports. Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 10 December 2006.
- Agencia Boliviana de Informacion, 3 May 2009
- Bolivia Information Forum Bulletin May 2008
- Corte Electoral Departmental de Santa Cruz, May 5, 2009
- Sugar Babies Screening. Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- La Razon newspaper, April 30, 2009
- Erbol, 4 May 2009
- La Razon, 5 May 2009
- Agencia Boliviana de Informacion, 3 May 2009
External links
- Human Rights Foundation website
- Full text of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights