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america

Section
ICRC operations in the Americas
A country-by-country overview of the ICRC’s work to provide neutral and independent assistance and protection for victims of conflict.
©ICRC/V.Louis/co-e-00200
The ICRC’s key objectives in the Americas are to promote respect for the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) and to protect and assist people affected by conflict and armed violence.

Its main operation in the region is in Colombia. Elsewhere, it visits detainees and tries to help families who are desperate to know the fate of relatives missing because of conflict. As a strictly neutral intermediary, the ICRC maintains contacts with governments, regional organisations and opposition groups.

The ICRC encourages governments to put the provisions of IHL into national law, helps to improve the training of military personnel in IHL and urges its adoption in university courses. It works closely with the national Red Cross societies of the region, giving support for activities such as IHL promotion, emergency preparedness and restoring family links.

The ICRC delegation in Washington covers Canada and the United States. It is the organization's interface with the US authorities over humanitarian issues arising from the so-called "global war on terror", including regular visits to detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. The ICRC, which has observer status to the United Nations, maintains a permanent delegation to the UN in New York.

Key data on the ICRC’s global operational budget for 2009


The country and region names used herein are intended to facilitate reference and have no political significance.
Key document
    26-10-2009
    Persons detained by the US in relation to armed conflict and the fight against terrorism – the role of the ICRC
    This document explains the purpose of the ICRC's visits to places of detention run by the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the procedures that the organization follows.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\United States)
    Operational update

    10-7-2008
    The ICRC in Latin America and the Caribbean
    In many Latin American and Caribbean countries, people are suffering the consequences of armed conflict and other situations of violence. In other countries, a conflict may have ended decades ago, but people are still struggling to rebuild their devastated lives. Maria Dos Anjos Gussing, the ICRC’s head of operations for Latin America and the Caribbean, details the organization's efforts to meet humanitarian needs in the region.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas)
    Interview Includes Photo

Annual Report
Event
Feature
    11-11-2009
    A displaced mother who lost 2 sons: "you never get over it"
    Millions of people have been displaced over decades of armed conflict in Colombia, and tens of thousands are missing. Cruz del Carmen faces a triple tragedy: her husband was killed, two of her children are missing, and she was displaced from her farm twelve years ago.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Feature Includes Photo

    29-5-2009
    Guatemala: putting an end to the pain of uncertainty
    The 1960-1996 internal armed conflict in Guatemala left tens of thousands of people dead and missing. The authorities, victims’ relatives, and various organizations are still searching for the remains of many of these people. Once found, they must be identified. The ICRC offers technical advice and material assistance to the Guatemalan organizations that are pursuing these efforts, and supports the families through the legal proceedings.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Guatemala)
    Feature Includes Photo

    6-4-2009
    Peru: overcrowding fuels tuberculosis infection in prisons
    Tuberculosis is a disease which is transmitted from person to person. For this reason, it spreads easily in prisons marked by overcrowded conditions. In Peru, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) took part in training health promoters to detect possible cases of infection in order to obtain immediate treatment for them.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Peru)
    Feature Includes Photo

    3-4-2009
    El Salvador: "Safer Access" model successfully put into practice during 2009 elections
    In order to be able to respond quickly and effectively to any possible incidents during the presidential elections in March in El Salvador, the Salvadorean Red Cross implemented its Elections 2009 Contingency Plan, with the technical and financial support of the ICRC. The ICRC supported the National Society's prevention work and ensured that its operational and security guidelines were followed.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\El Salvador)
    Feature Includes Photo

    2-4-2009
    Peru: new hope for the relatives of missing persons
    After 25 years of waiting, relatives of 61 persons who disappeared in Huanta, Ayacucho, in 1984 took part from 9 to 23 March in exhumations and the taking of DNA samples to identify the remains of 50 victims that can later be returned to their relatives.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Peru)
    Feature Includes Photo

    6-3-2009
    Mexico: the importance of supporting prisoners’ families
    Women often face major problems when a member of their family is imprisoned, especially a man. Eva learned all about this when her husband was arrested for taking part in demonstrations in the Mexican city of Oaxaca during 2006. She agreed to tell us her story, recounting with great dignity her suffering and the difficulties she faced during this period of separation.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Mexico)
    Feature

    4-3-2009
    Haiti: midwives bring solace to women in Haiti’s slums
    Midwives Marie Joseph and Françoise understand the suffering of women in Cité Soleil. Marie Joseph’s daughter and Françoise’s niece have been victims of the rampant sexual violence in Haiti’s sprawling waterside slum. Trained by the Red Cross, the two midwives help evacuate pregnant and sexually abused women to hospital.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Haiti)
    Feature

    2-2-2009
    "United against dengue": the Red Cross and the residents of Rio join forces to prevent the disease
    The ICRC and the Brazilian Red Cross (BRC) mounted the campaign "United against dengue" in seven "socially vulnerable" districts of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil. As part of the campaign, more than 80 community workers, members of the health profession and BRC volunteers received training so that they could explain to the population how to avoid a dengue epidemic.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Brazil)
    Feature Includes Photo

    3-12-2008
    Policing and protection of the individual
    The ICRC undertakes a range of activities in Mexico and Panama that focus on integrating human rights and humanitarian principles into the training of law-enforcement personnel. The aim is to prevent human rights violations by police and security forces, and to ensure that individuals are protected.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas)
    Feature Includes Photo

    18-11-2008
    Colombia: surviving a mine accident
    Although Juan still suffers from severe headaches and back pain and has trouble sleeping, he feels lucky: he is a mine survivor. He is one of the 2,000 civilian victims of accidents caused by improvised explosive devices and anti-personnel landmines in Colombia between 2002 and 2007.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Feature

    1-9-2008
    Guatemala: a young man’s search for his identity
    According to the report published by the Historical Clarification Commission, around 5,000 children became separated from their families during the internal armed conflict in Guatemala. Sebastián Max was one of them. After 28 long years, he has finally learned his true identity.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Guatemala)
    Feature Includes Photo

ICRC Publication
International Review of the Red Cross
    31-12-2008
    Interview with The Hon. Sergio Jaramillo Caro, Vice Minister of Defence in Colombia
    The Honourable Sergio Jaramillo Caro is Vice Minister of Defence in Colombia. Prior to this, he held several diplomatic and governmental positions, including adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (where he was in charge of diplomacy for peace), Political Counsellor of the Embassy of Colombia in France, and Adviser for Political and Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Defence.
    (Info resources\International Review\2008 - No. 872)
    International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF

    30-6-2006
    Reflections on international humanitarian law and transitional justice: lessons to be learnt from the Latin American experience
    This article seeks to determine the influence of international humanitarian law on the transitional justice process. The author examines the specific experience of certain Latin American states that have been deeply affected by serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
    (Info resources\International Review\2006 - No. 862)
    International Review of the Red CrossElizabeth Salmón G. Includes PDF

Interview
    28-9-2009
    Honduras: "Red Cross must be able to work in safety"
    The ICRC and the Honduran Red Cross are working together to help people affected by the recent clashes between demonstrators and the security forces. Christoph Kleber, deputy head of the ICRC's regional delegation for Central America, describes Red Cross action on the ground in Tegucigalpa.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Honduras)
    Interview Includes Photo

    3-4-2009
    Colombia: providing access to water during armed conflict
    The lack of a reliable water supply is, for some communities, the result of isolation and poverty. Armed conflict can also limit people’s access to water. Honduras Motilona is a settlement in north-eastern Colombia, an area that has been severely affected by the conflict. Here, in 2008, the ICRC worked with the community and the local authorities to build an aqueduct. Paola Ximena Cárdenas, ICRC water and habitat specialist, describes the project in more detail.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Interview Includes Video

    5-2-2009
    Colombia: emotions flow as released captives are reunited with their families
    The ICRC is helping to prepare the release of former lawmaker Sigifredo López, currently held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Patricia Danzi, ICRC head of operations for Latin America, describes recent missions that enabled five other people to return to their families.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Interview Includes Photo

    30-1-2009
    Colombia: ICRC helps prepare release of persons held by FARC
    In Colombia, the ICRC is preparing to facilitate the release of six persons currently being held by the FARC. Christophe Beney, the ICRC's head of delegation, explains his organization's involvement in this mission.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Interview Includes Photo

    30-6-2008
    Protecting people in situations of internal violence
    In January 2008, the head of the ICRC’s regional delegation in Buenos Aires, Michel Minnig, addressed the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States on the subject of internal violence. In this interview, he reviews the main points of his statement.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas)
    Interview

Official Statement
Operational update
    16-9-2009
    Colombia: ICRC activities from April to June 2009
    The armed conflict in Colombia is having a major impact on public health. Attacks on medical personnel are hindering community access to basic health services, and many of those injured are not receiving effective and appropriate medical attention. In response to these concerns, in April the ICRC took part in the first national seminar on the delivery of medical services in wartime.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Operational update Includes Photo

    7-5-2009
    ICRC activities in 2008 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay
    The ICRC strives increasingly to assist people caught up in internal violence and tensions, especially clashes in urban settings and strife related to social, indigenous and land issues in various parts of Brazil, Paraguay and Chile. It also promotes international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles throughout the region.
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Argentina)
    Operational update Includes Photo

    15-4-2009
    Colombia: humanitarian situation deteriorates
    An overview of ICRC activities in Colombia in 2008
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Operational update Includes Photo

    26-2-2009
    Colombia: infrastructure projects to enhance the quality of life of victims of the armed conflict
    In Colombia, many communities affected by the armed conflict are contending with problems caused by the lack of infrastructure or by weapon contamination. In many places, the population struggles to obtain drinking water, basic sanitary services are lacking and access to education, health and the means of subsistence is obstructed. ICRC activities in Colombia, October - December 2008
    (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Colombia)
    Operational update Includes Photo

Photo Collection
    16-10-2009
    Colombia: more than 40 years on, the conflict continues – photo gallery
    The population of Colombia is still feeling the impact of a conflict that began in the 1960s. The ICRC continues to help ease the suffering of the most vulnerable – the injured, the displaced, detainees and families of missing persons. These photos were taken in February and March 2009 by war photographer Franco Pagetti, from the VII photo agency.
    (Info resources\Photos\The Americas)
    Photo Collection Includes Photo

Report


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© 2009  International Committee of the Red Cross
26-11-2009