Universal Periodic Review of Nicaragua
On May 7, 2014, the 19th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, during which the second cycle of the human rights review for Nicaragua was conducted.
This review is a mechanism through which peer countries assess the human rights situation in each United Nations Member State. For Casa Alianza, this review was an opportunity to emphasize the importance of adopting and strengthening, at the national level, the juvenile justice system, as well as measures to protect against and prevent risk factors associated with addiction and the issues of trafficking and sexual exploitation
To this end, Casa Alianza Switzerland worked closely with its partner in Nicaragua, and in April 2014, Cristina Navarro, head of development and advocacy for Casa Alianza Nicaragua, traveled to Geneva to present these recommendations during the pre-session meetings for this review as well as to the delegations that would participate in Nicaragua’s review.
Our organization was pleased to see that its efforts had borne fruit, as the majority of the delegations we met with incorporated these recommendations during the UPR, and Casa Alianza was one of the few NGOs able to present a statement. Finally, following this review, Casa Alianza Nicaragua, in collaboration with Casa Alianza Switzerland, wrote a letter to the government to emphasize the importance of effectively implementing these recommendations.
Assault on Guadalupe
On May 9, 2013, José Guadalupe Ruelas, the director of Casa Alianza Honduras, was kicked by Honduran police officers and had to be hospitalized. He had previously denounced the rise in murders of children and young people and the climate of impunity prevailing in Honduras.
Concerned and outraged by this attack, Casa Alianza Switzerland contacted the Honduran mission as well as various institutions in Geneva—such as the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)—to denounce this act.
Internationally, numerous NGOs have also joined forces to call for an end to this impunity and for this act to be condemned. Finally, our association has also been deeply moved by the messages of support and encouragement from a large number of members and supporters. To all of you, a big thank you!
8th Annual Casa Alianza Golf Tournament
Once again this year, Casa Alianza had the privilege of organizing its traditional tournament at the Esery Golf Club, followed, as always, by a delicious cocktail reception prepared by Dominique Gauthier, the Michelin-starred chef at the Hôtel Beau Rivage in Geneva. The event took place on Friday, October 3, with record attendance: 21 golf teams were formed, and more than 100 people stayed for the evening.
Perfect weather conditions allowed the players to fully enjoy the magnificent setting in which the competition took place. Furthermore, thanks to the relatively mild temperatures for the season, tables were set up in the Golf Club’s pleasant and spacious pop-up tent so that everyone could enjoy the many exquisite dishes prepared by Dominique Gauthier and his team.
This event was a huge success, as it took place in a very friendly atmosphere and, thanks in particular to very generous donations, to raise over CHF 20,000, which will enable the association to support rehabilitation programs for street children in Central America and Mexico.
Once again, the entire Casa Alianza team extends its heartfelt thanks to Emmanuel Ballongue, Michel Cartillier, and Astrid de Stampa of the Esery Golf Club for their invaluable support in helping Casa Alianza organize this event, as well as Dominique Gauthier for once again agreeing to put his talent to work on behalf of street children.
Casa Alianza Nicaragua Receives an Award for Its Work in Defending Human Rights
On October 24, 2014, Casa Alianza Nicaragua was awarded the third Franco-German Human Rights Prize by the embassies of France and Germany in Nicaragua, in recognition of its activities to promote, defend, and protect children’s rights. This award primarily recognized the support work initiated by the organization for incarcerated children and adolescents, funded in particular by the Geneva Canton Solidarity Service.
Following this award, Casa Alianza Nicaragua was invited to meet with government officials and representatives, as well as other institutions involved in issues concerning children and adolescents, in France and Germany to develop new collaborative networks. Casa Alianza Switzerland will accompany its colleagues from Nicaragua on this visit, which will take place very soon.
Casa Alianza’s Participation in the Information Day on Development and Cooperation
On November 14, Casa Alianza participated in the “KFH Information Day on Development and Cooperation 2014,” organized at Hepia/Hes-so by the Office for Development and Cooperation of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, the International Solidarity Service of the Canton of Geneva, and the Geneva Federation for Cooperation.
Due to its work with migrant children and victims of trafficking in Honduras, Casa Alianza was invited by the Canton of Geneva to participate in the workshop on migration to share its experience in this field and to set up an information booth about the organization at the university. This event, which aimed to build bridges between universities and the various actors in international cooperation, was a wonderful opportunity for our organization not only to present its fieldwork but also to forge connections with academic institutions interested in development issues. We would also like to thank Paule Dechevrens, who came to help us staff the association’s booth!
Raising Awareness Among Young People at Step Into Action
On November 10 and 11, 2014, Casa Alianza was once again present at Palexpo for the “Step Into Action” project organized by the NGO Euforia. This interactive and fun event aimed to raise awareness among middle school and business school students in the Canton of Geneva about the importance of sustainable development by offering them a platform of information and opportunities to inspire and motivate them to become agents of change.
Casa Alianza was able to explain to the young people the association’s on-the-ground activities and, in particular, to raise their awareness—through an interactive game—of the risks faced each year by thousands of children who migrate to escape violence or poverty. No fewer than 1,200 young people participated in this event, and many of them expressed interest in Casa Alianza’s activities and a desire to support the organization.
Congratulations to Euforia for the excellent organization of this wonderful event, and a big thank you to Arnaud Bocquillon and Marina Cox, who came to help Casa Alianza welcome these young people!
Casa Alianza at the Filmar en América Latina Festival
This year, Casa Alianza once again partnered with the 16th edition of the Filmar en América Latina Festival, screening two documentaries on the evenings of November 26 and 28—in partnership with the City and Canton of Geneva—focusing on violence against women and human trafficking, issues faced by a significant number of the organization’s beneficiaries on the ground.
The first short film, “El Engaño,” by Florence Jaugey, presented, in a restrained manner, the deeply moving testimonies of seven women—including that of a beneficiary of Casa Alianza Nicaragua—on the reality of human trafficking in Central America. The second documentary, “Ya no más” by Félix Zurita, depicted the domestic violence suffered by women in Nicaragua and the shocking indifference of the police, the media, and the authorities.
Following the films, the evening of Wednesday, November 26, also featured a lengthy discussion about the situation and Casa Alianza’s work on the ground regarding these issues. Finally, a reception hosted by the association allowed all supporters of the cause and the organization to continue their discussions in a very friendly atmosphere until late into the evening.
