Washington, DC - Recent demonstrations across Latin America exposed pent up citizen demands and also, in some cases, fragile protections for social protest. While popular mobilizations were largely peaceful, acts of violence presented challenges for security services, which at times stood accused of responding with excessive force and fueling public resentment against the authorities. And while some protest movements have proven more sustained than others, all face questions about their capacity for concrete impact on politics and policy. 

How strong are formal protections for social protest in Latin America, and have rights to freedom of expression and assembly been respected in practice? Do protest movements represent a vehicle for social progress and expansion of human rights, or an outburst of public anger without a clearly defined agenda? And from new candidates to new constitutions, how will the protests shape public policy and political ecosystems in the months and years ahead? 

To analyze these questions, the Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to host “Social protest, social progress, and human rights in Latin America.”

Follow this event on Twitter at #LatAmProtests and @The_Dialogue.

Speakers:

• Beatriz Pedreira, Co-founder, Instituto UPDATE (@beatriz_biro)
• Edison Lanza, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (@EdisonLanza)
• José Miguel Vivanco, Executive Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch (@JMVivancoHRW)

Moderator:

• Michael Camilleri, Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@camillerimj)