Puente Democrático

24/01/2013
International Relations and Human Rights: The European and Latin American vision
On occasion of the next VII Latin American and the Caribbean – European Union Summit that will take place in the city of Santiago de Chile on January 26 and 27, 2013 where 60 heads of state will be gathered, the Program Puente Democratico of the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) offered a space where to identify the different approaches and levels of priority given to the agenda of international promotion and defense of human rights in foreign policy and civil society.

05/10/2012
Václav Havel Institute launched
With the participation of Petr Kopriva, Ambassador of Czech Republic in Argentina, the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) presented the Vaclav Havel Institute for international democratic solidarity at Centro Cultural Recoleta. On the birthday of Vaclav Havel the institute of Puente Democratico Program from CADAL that bares his name was launched with the aim of training the youth in the values of democracy, peace and international solidarity in defense of human rights.

19/06/2012
Presentation in the European Parliament
The seminar “Diplomacy and Human Rights in Cuba – Is There a Connection?” was held in the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels, thanks to the organization of the Swedish Christian Democratic International Center, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL). The expositors were: Alf Svensson; retired Swedish diplomat Ingemar Cederberg; Frank Priess of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation; and the General Director of CADAL, Gabriel Salvia.

22/02/2011
The Swedish Embassy in Chile and CADAL honored Ingemar Cederberg (read it in Spanish)
The opening of the event was in charge of Swedish Ambassador in Chile, Eva Zetterberg, who highlighted the recent words stated by Chancellor Carl Bildt, in his speech before the Swedish Parliament on Foreign Policy for the current year: “The necessity of democratic and economic reforms in Cuba is still huge. The support to democratic forces must be reinforced and the pressure on the regime must be maintained. It is unacceptable that freed political prisoners are sent to exile”.

02/12/2010
Ibero American Democratic Forum 2010
The closure of the event was in charge of Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle, former President of Chile, and previously the speakers were journalist Claudio Paolillo, jurist Daniel Sabsay, politician and diplomat Ricardo Lafferriere, Dr. Hilda Molina and economist Ricardo López Murphy.

18/08/2010
Hilda Molina in Montevideo
CADAL and Centro de Estudios Jean Francois Revel, sponsored by El País newspaper, organized at Teatro del Centro Carlos Eugenio Scheck, the book presentation of “Mi verdad: de la revolución cubana al desencanto”, with its author, Cuban neurosurgeon Hilda Molina. The book presentation was in charge of Dr. Julio Jaureguy, editorialist of El País, and the comments by political scientist Romeo Pérez Antón and philosopher Pablo da Silveira.

10/06/2010
Media, politics and democracy
The conference "Media, politics and democracy" took place at the Auditorium of Universidad de Bologna in Buenos Aires, with a debate on the book "Political power and media. From political representation to reality show". The speakers were Bernardo Sorj, Hernán Galperín, Fernando Ruiz and Martín Becerra with José María Ghío moderating the debate. The activity was co-organized by Plataforma Democrática, CADAL, Universidad de Bologna and Universidad de San Andrés.

04/06/2010
Inter-American Democratic Forum
Before the XL General Assembly of the OAS in Lima, Red Puente Democrático Latinoamericano formed by CADAL, organized at the Gau auditorium of the Peruvian Congress, the first edition of Inter-American Democratic Forum with speakers from Argentina, Brazil, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

10/05/2010
Steps towards democratic opening in Cuba
With the participation of Hilda Molina, Patricio Walker and Martín Borrelli, CADAL organized in Buenos Aires, the conference "Steps towards democratic opening in Cuba: freedom of expression and association". In this occassion the book "Antes que amanezca y otros relatos" was presented and the Red Puente Democratico Latinoamericano gave the 2010 Award to Democratic Opening in Cuba to Varela Project.

03/05/2010
Jorge Batlle in Montevideo presented a book by Cuban independent journalist and former political prisoner
On the International Day of Freedom of Expression, CADAL organized in Montevideo the presentation of the book "Antes que amanezca y otros relatos" (Before daybreak and other stories), by Cuban independent journalist and former political prisoner Jorge Olivera Castillo. The presentation took place at Teatro del Centro "Carlos Eugenio Scheck" and was in charge of Dr. Jorge Batlle, former President of Uruguay (2000-2005).

18/03/2010
A progressive view on the situation of human rights in Cuba
With ocassion of the 7th anniversary of the crackdown on disidentes known as "Cuban Black Spring", CADAL organized at the Embassy of Czech Republic in Buenos Aires, the conference "A progressive view on the situtation of human rights in Cuba" with the participation of jurist Daniel Sabsay and wellknown journalist Pepe Eliaschev, who both signed the Declaration "The exercise of righs is no crime" (in the picture with Graciela Fernández Meijide).

28/01/2010
The state of democracy in Latin America
With guest speakers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, CADAL organized at the Auditorium Héctor Dieguez at Universidad Di Tella, the seminar "The State of Democracy in Latin America". The subjects analyzed where "Institutional quality, democratic governance and freedom of expression facing populism” and “Cuba and the matter of democracy in the 21st century".

10/12/2009
Conference on the International Day of Human Rights
In order to celebrate the International Day of Human Rights, CADAL organized at the graduates college of Universidad de Belgrano in downtown Buenos Aires, a conference where Andrés Cañizalez and Ricardo Rojas analyzed the situation in Cuba and Venezuela, with comments in charge of Gabriel Palumbo and Gabriel Salvia.

30/11/2009
Globalization and Human Rights
Within the frame of the activities of Red Puente Democrático Latino Cubano, Instituto Millenium from Brazil organized at hotel Marina Palace in Río de Janeiro, the conference "Globalizatin and Human Rights: fundamental rights in non democratic countries" with the participation of Eduardo Viola and Gabriel Salvia as main speakers and Paulo Uebel who moderated the session.

16/09/2009
Free speech in Latin America
Three prestigious experts in press freedom offered a conference at CADAL's office in Buenos Aires, where the following reports were launched “Indicadores de Periodismo y Democracia en América Latina: Primer Semestre 2009” (Local Level Journalism and Democracy Indicators in Latin America: First Semester 2009) and “Con crónicas sobre Cuba, los blogueros ofrecen nueva esperanza” (With chronicles on Cuba, bloggers offer a new hope), in charge of Fernando J. Ruiz and Carlos Lauría, respectively. Besides, Andrés Cañizález referred to the situation of freedom of expression in Venezuela.

11/09/2009
Eighth anniversary of Inter-American Democratic Chart and launch of Red Puente Democrático Latino Cubano at Peruvian Congress
Over a hundred people attended to the event, during which Red Puente Democrático Latino Cubano was formally launched. The Network is formed by Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina (CADAL), Instituto Peruano de Economía Social de Mercado (IPESM), Instituto Millenium from Brazil and Corporación Justicia y Democracia from Chile.

31/07/2009
The June 2009 Iranian Elections and its implications for the world
Last Thursday July 30, at CADAL's office in Buenos Aires, a new class of 2009 edition of Latin American Program of Academic Extension took place with a presentation by Dr. Houman A. Sadri. In this opportunity the class refer to "The June 2009 Iranian Elections and its implications for the world".

28/04/2009
Book on a proposal of a Constitution for Cuba presented at Book Faire of Buenos Aires
Fundación Friedrich A. Von Hayek, Unión Editorial and CADAL organized at the International Book Faire of Buenos Aires, the presentation of the book Elementos de teoría constitucional y una propuesta para Cuba (Elements of Constitutional Theory and a proposal for Cuba). The book was launched by the author, Ricardo Manuel Rojas, Vice-Chairman of Fundación Hayek; and commented by José Ignacio García Hamilton, National Representative and wellknown author, and Gabriel Salvia, Chairman of CADAL.

03/04/2009
Journalism and dictatorship: Theory and practice of a democratic profession (read it in Spanish)
On Friday, April 3 ended the Seminal “Journalism and Dictatorship: Theory and practice of a democratic profession” by Dr. Fernando J. Ruiz. With a profound documental analysis and through audiovisual material the participants could get in touch with the main characteristics of dictatorships and their relationship with the press, independent journalism and the struggle for human rights.

18/03/2009
Award to Committed Diplomacy in Cuba, 2003-2008
On the sixth anniversary of the crack down known as "Cuban Black Spring", CADAL gave in Buenos Aires the "Award to Committed Diplomacy in Cuba", corresponding to the period 2003-2008. The winners of the award that consisted of a plaque, were chosen taking into account the number and diversity of the votes from the different groups of disidents. The winners are: Daniel Gromann, former Business Attaché of the Embassy of Poland in Havanna; Stanislav Kázecky, former First Secretary of the Czech Embassy in Havanna; Michael Parmly, former Chief of the Section of Interests of United States in Havanna; Melanie Hopkins, former Second Secretary of the British Embassy in Havanna; Hans-Ulrich Lunscken † (1952-2008), former Ambassador of Germany in Cuba; and Andrea Brouillette-Rodríguez, former officer in the Human Rights area at the Section of Interests of United States in Havanna. Other two German diplomats and one Norwegian también were also awarded but decided not to accept the prize. The award highlights the work of foreign diplomats in Cuba, acknowledging those who during their mission have characterized for showing solidarity towards democrats in the Island and for taking committed actions facing human rights violations in that country.