Strong safeguard of human rights is emerging in Latin America

In recent years human rights have been under extraordinary pressure in the Americas. Indigenous peoples continue to be at great risk throughout the region, violence against women remains prevalent and attacks against human rights defenders are widespread. This poses a tremendous task for the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of the region, who often find themselves on the frontline of the crisis.

On 6 December , the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the American Continent (RINDHCA) inaugurated its permanent office in Panama. It is expected that the opening of the office will strengthen the capacity of the NHRIs in the region’s 18 countries to act regionally against the many human rights challenges in the region.

"With the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat, RINDHCA will respond more efficiently to the challenges human rights face in the region," says José Apolonio Tobar Serrano, Head of El Salvador National Human Rights Institution and Secretary-General of RINDHCA.

Ms Anahí Quintero, a Panamanian lawyer, specialising in human rights, will head the Permanent Secretariat as RINDHCA Permanent Technical. 
During the opening of the office Ms Quitero highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation amongst the NHRIs in the region, generating spaces for dialogue, learning and exchange among its members.

“With the opening of the RINDHCA Regional Office, Panama will have a wider space for respect for human rights, integration, cooperation, participation, promotion, equality and transparency," Ms Anahí Quintero said. 

The Danish Institute for Human Rights and GANHRI, with the financial support of the NHRI EU project, provide technical support to RINDCHA.

“In many Latin American countries human rights defenders are risking their lives to create change. The national human rights institutions in the region are doing  are working  to protect and promote human rights, but they need the support. The Institute is committed to continue its support to our sister organisations in the region and work to ensure that they become a stronger collective unit,” says Nieves Molina, project manager at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.