SOLIDAR Training Academy and Political Dialogue on EU-Latin American Relations: Putting Freedom of Association and CSO Space at the forefront
Between 15 and 17 October, SOLIDAR together with its member MPDL hosted its first Training Academy and Political Dialogue on EU-Latin American Relations.
The event, organised in the framework of DEVCO – SOLIDAR Framework Partnership Agreement “Organising International SOLIDARity”, brought together Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from five Latin American countries where freedom of association, the space for CSOs to operate freely and for Human Rights defenders to work safely are being heavily curtailed: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
During the Academy SOLIDAR members expressed concerns for the situation in Ecuador since the announcement of new austerity measures imposed to meet the terms of an IMF loan.
Protests by those most strongly affected by these economic reform have been the target of violent repression.
In this regard, SOLIDAR Network calls
- for an end to any repression against those opposing the economic reforms in Ecuador
- for the respect of the agreements and for the prosecution of the acts of violence and human rights violations that took place. Impunity cannot be an option.
- welcomes the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on recent developments in Ecuador (17 October) where the EU “ welcomes the agreement reached by the President of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, and representatives of the indigenous groups” and “encourages the continuation of negotiations” https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/10/17/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-recent-developments-in-ecuador/
