The new director of Amnesty International in the Americas has criticized the use of the military and heavy-handed measures to combat crime in the region: ‘The Armed Forces are not trained to ensure public safety’
Ana Piquer, a Chilean human rights activist, is the new regional director for Amnesty International in the Americas. She takes over during a turbulent time. Her organization is facing difficult challenges when it comes to defending human rights, as governments are increasingly using militaries and heavy-handed policies to guarantee public safety. Dissident voices are persecuted and violence is hitting activists, journalists, women and political candidates especially hard, particularly in Mexico as the bloody 2024 election cycle unfolds.
Piquer, 49, criticizes the use of the Armed Forces in ensuring public safety, along with the measures implemented by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. However, this direction has aroused much enthusiasm among many Latin American politicians. “If Bukele’s is the model to follow, we’re all in serious trouble,” she warns.
In her interview with EL PAÍS, the Chilean activist — who took over the regional directorship in April — analyzes the challenges that the continent faces when it comes to the defense of human rights.
Question. You’ve taken over the leadership of Amnesty International in the Americas amidst a very complicated scenario. Do you see a setback for human rights in the region?
Answer. Unfortunately, yes. We’re in a very delicate moment, because certain narratives have been gaining strength — [particularly] in areas such as security — which attempt to justify the violations of human rights. We face governments that increasingly take measures to [silence] voices that they perceive as being dissident and that don’t agree with the measures they’re adopting. [Individuals and groups] have been silenced in different ways. This involves stigmatization, criminalization, persecution and surveillance.
