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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: steinbergJB@state.gov,secretary@state.gov
Subject: Defend the Defenders
Dear
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg,
I am writing to urge you to take stronger, more visible action to support Colombia's highly vulnerable human rights defenders.
I am part of the National and International Campaign for the Right to Defend Human Rights - Colombia: Human Rights Defenders under Threat. The campaign, signed by over 200 human rights organizations from 23 countries, was launched in response to the worsening situation facing Colombia's human rights defenders. Human rights defenders are victims of killings, violent attacks, threats, systematic stigmatization, sexual violence, and unfounded criminal proceedings - and the vast majority of these crimes remain in impunity.
But, the situation has now reached a new level of crisis. In April 2009, documents were made public which show the existence of a massive illegal espionage operation carried out by Colombia's intelligence agency, the Administrative Security Department (DAS), which reports directly to the President, against those who promote and defend human rights, whose objective, according to those responsible, was to "restrict or neutralize their work".
The DAS has not only been intercepting human rights defenders' private telephone calls illegally, it has also been following defenders and taking photographs of them and their families. Police units and the National Army also use intelligence operations to restrict the work of defenders. This illegal intelligence, which appears to be continuing, contravenes democratic principles and constitutes an attack on human rights in Colombia.
I ask that you and other senior members of the State Department publicly and visibly express your support for Colombia's human rights defenders and make their protection a central goal of the U.S. Government's policy towards Colombia. Human rights defenders play an essential role in any democracy in promoting the rule of law, justice, and peace. We must help protect them and support their work.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
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To: steinbergJB@state.gov,secretary@state.gov
Subject: Defend the Defenders
Dear
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg,
I am writing to urge you to take stronger, more visible action to support Colombia's highly vulnerable human rights defenders.
I am part of the National and International Campaign for the Right to Defend Human Rights - Colombia: Human Rights Defenders under Threat. The campaign, signed by over 200 human rights organizations from 23 countries, was launched in response to the worsening situation facing Colombia's human rights defenders. Human rights defenders are victims of killings, violent attacks, threats, systematic stigmatization, sexual violence, and unfounded criminal proceedings - and the vast majority of these crimes remain in impunity.
But, the situation has now reached a new level of crisis. In April 2009, documents were made public which show the existence of a massive illegal espionage operation carried out by Colombia's intelligence agency, the Administrative Security Department (DAS), which reports directly to the President, against those who promote and defend human rights, whose objective, according to those responsible, was to "restrict or neutralize their work".
The DAS has not only been intercepting human rights defenders' private telephone calls illegally, it has also been following defenders and taking photographs of them and their families. Police units and the National Army also use intelligence operations to restrict the work of defenders. This illegal intelligence, which appears to be continuing, contravenes democratic principles and constitutes an attack on human rights in Colombia.
I ask that you and other senior members of the State Department publicly and visibly express your support for Colombia's human rights defenders and make their protection a central goal of the U.S. Government's policy towards Colombia. Human rights defenders play an essential role in any democracy in promoting the rule of law, justice, and peace. We must help protect them and support their work.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
--
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Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1772]
