V. Regional Responses, Latin American and Caribbean Civil Society Forum for the Prevention of Mass Atrocities

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On December 12-13, 2019, the Stanley Center and La Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (CRIES), organizers of the Latin American and Caribbean Civil Society Forum for the Prevention of Mass Atrocities, convened the Fifth Workshop of Regional Responses in São Paulo, Brazil.

The workshop brought together 30 participants from civil society organizations, including representatives of international organizations and think tanks, as well as academics, journalists, and officials from ten countries in the region. Drawing together these diverse voices from across the region, the workshop continued the multi-year process of developing concrete recommendations for policymakers and organizations to help address crises in the region.

Topics of discussion included the militarization of security, Venezuelan migration and gender, the Venezuelan case at the International Criminal Court, concerning developments in Central America, and updates about Red Convergencia (Convergence Network). The event also featured a session on communications strategies, led by Mark Seaman, Director of Communications at the Stanley Center. These topics were informed by four discussion papers, authored by expert specialists prior to the event.

In addition to summarizing important findings and developing recommendations, participants identified key thematic areas for future workshops. The readout and recommendations, as well as the discussion papers, are available in English and Spanish below.

Readout & Recommendations

V. Regional Responses to the Venezuelan Crisis
Translation: Spanish (cries.org)
Lucía Rossi and Constanza Boettger
This analysis reviews the common challenges facing nations in the region and recaps the discussion on themes of security militarization, gender and migration in Venezuela, the crisis in Central America, and other topics examined in the discussion papers.

Discussion Papers

Venezuela and the International Criminal Court
Translation: Spanish (cries.org)
Elienai González Hernández
González Hernández summarizes the case before the ICC of alleged violations of the right to life, personal integrity, and freedom resulting from excessive violence by Venezuelan state security forces against demonstrators, offering recommendations for documenting evidence and improving coordination among organizations that are facilitating the case.

Gender and Forced Migration from Venezuela: Brazil’s Advancements and Challenges
Translation: Spanish (cries.org)
Julia Camargo
Reviewing early reports about Venezuelan migrants in Brazil, Camargo recommends further actions that would help to address the unique risks and vulnerabilities faced by refugee women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Inequality and Violence in Central America
Translation: Spanish (cries.org)
Marlin Sierra
As Central America experiences some of the highest rates of violence in the world, Sierra describes the structural factors increasing inequality and forced migration while also recommending policy reforms and regional mechanisms to protect vulnerable populations.

Militarization of Public Security in Latin America and the Caribbean
Translation: Spanish (cries.org)
Thiago Rodrigues
Governments across the ideological spectrum in Latin America and the Caribbean have increasingly relied on military or police forces to crack down on the surge of drug trafficking. In certain cases, these heavy-handed responses have led to increased levels of conflict. Rodrigues provides recommendations to ameliorate these scenarios, including  raising awareness among security forces, policymakers, and the public about the effects of militarization.