From http://www.iachr.org/Comunicados/English/2008/hearings133eng.htm

Friday, October 24, 2008 – Room A

The public hearings held in this room will be webcast live on the OAS Web site, www.oas.org.

The videos will also be available for viewing later on the OAS and IACHR Web sites.

The audio recordings will be available on the IACHR site, www.iachr.org.

9:00 – 10:00

Case 12.643 - Elías López Pita and Luis Alberto Shinin Laso, Ecuador

Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU)

Government of Ecuador

10:15 – 11:15

Case 12.543 - Alejandro Xavier León Vega, Ecuador

Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU)

Government of Ecuador

11:30 – 12:15

Discrimination based on gender, race, and sexual orientation in the Americas

Corporación Promoción de la Mujer / Taller de Comunicación Mujer

See http://www.witnessforpeace.org/calendar.php?id=61

Please join Witness for Peace Mid-Atlantic for a public event featuring Freddy Caicedo, a human rights organizer, from Cali, Colombia, to discuss the impacts of the proposed Colombian Free Trade Agreement in Colombia.

Friday, October 24
7:00—8:30 PM
St. Stephen’s Church 1525 Newton St, NW

Cosponsored by: Alliance for Responsible Trade, Colombia Human Rights Committee, SOA Watch, and
TransAfrica Forum

Contact: 202-547-6112, melinda@witnessforpeace.org

More information:

With elections just around the corner, free trade has become one of the foremost concerns of the US public and the candidates hoping to represent us. Meanwhile, Congress is still considering a NAFTA-style agreement with war-torn Colombia.

What would this new NAFTA mean for Colombia and the US?

Why are Colombians organizing under threat of death to halt this trade agreement?

Come hear Freddy Caicedo, a compelling Colombian human rights organizer, give an insider’s perspective on the trade deal.

Fast Facts on Freddy:

§ Exposed the extermination of Afro and indigenous Colombians as human rights investigator
§ Works alongside unionists under death threat
§ Runs a community center to remember the war’s victims and chart strategies for peace
§ Holds degree in economics
§ Taught human rights courses in public schools
§ Organized with Christian base communities

Please join Witness for Peace Mid-Atlantic and TransAfrica Forum for a public event featuring: Freddy Caicedo