Please join the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center and Freedom House on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 from 8:30 to 10:00am (Registration at 8:15 am) for a conversation with three Venezuelan human rights activists on the situation in Venezuela and the impact on human rights and democracy.
 

Viviana Giacaman, Regional Director for Latin America, Freedom House

Peter Schechter, Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council

Speakers

Marianela Balbi, Director, Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS)

Carlos Correa, Director, Espacio Público

Liliana Ortega, Founder, Comité de Familiares de las Víctimas (COFAVIC)

Moderator

Jason Marczak, Deputy Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council

Six months after a highly contentious presidential election, Venezuela's political, economic and social future is more uncertain than ever. President Nicolás Maduro recently asked for the power to rule by decree to further limit the few remaining checks on executive power. The draft enabling law is aimed at fighting corruption, but would give Maduro a wide range of new powers to go after his critics, including political parties. At the same time, inflation reached 49 percent in September, and scarcity of basic products and speculation on the timing for a potential devaluation continue to afflict average Venezuelans. Blaming the United States for the country’s economic crisis, Maduro recently expelled three American diplomats—a move that was followed by the creation of a commission in the National Assembly to investigate human rights organizations funded from abroad.

With municipal elections in December, further uncertainty exists in this increasingly volatile environment. 

This program will be conducted in Spanish with simultaneous translation provided.