IN 2013, CONECTAS STEPPED UP its activities on the African continent, establishing new partnerships and improving its credibility with existing partners. The organization also liaised and worked together with organizations in Africa to expose cases of human rights violations and to engage in advocacy, namely in:
Zimbabwe
Monitoring of human rights violations in Zimbabwe since 2007. In the elections held in the country in 2013, Conectas liaised with local organizations and requested from the Brazilian diplomatic mission in Pretoria, South Africa, an official statement on the transparency of the election process in Zimbabwe. As a result of this pressure from Conectas, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry provided clarifications about the Brazilian position on the case to the organization. Read more here and here.
Egypt
Support and collaboration with local organizations in Egypt to expose the crisis in the country and defend an end to the violence. In July 2013, following the popular demonstrations that culminated in the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, serious human rights violations resulted in the death of more than 600 people. The demands of civil society – which were supported by Conectas – included the identification of those responsible for the excessive violence and the reform of the security services in Egypt. Read more here.
Zambia
Condemnation of the national law in Zambia that limits the freedom of action of civil society organizations in the country. In October 2013, Conectas joined a group of 112 organizations from 46 countries that expressed to the President of Zambia their opposition to the law and proposed an open dialogue between government and civil society before its implementation. Read more here.
Ivory Coast
Advocacy with a partner organization from Ivory Coast calling for measures from Brazil’s Ministry of Defense to stop Brazilian arms sold to the African continent from being diverted from their intended destination. Since 2004, an arms embargo has been imposed on the country by the UN Security Council. Weapons trafficking threatens the protection of human rights and security stability in the region, especially since the country is still recovering from a civil war and armed conflict. Read more here.
Guinea Bissau
Partnership with local organizations from Guinea Bissau to defend human rights in the country. In January 2014, Brazil’s former Foreign Minister – Antônio Aguiar Patriota – was in Guinea Bissau in the capacity of president of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, and he met with representatives from the government and the Armed Forces. Conectas and local partners called for greater involvement of the Brazilian government in the country, particularly since the upcoming elections, held in April 2014, were the first since the coup of April 2012. Read more here and here.
IN 2014, CONECTAS intends to expand its cooperation with partners from the Global South in the regions of Latin America and Asia.
