WASHINGTON, D.C. /eNewsChannels/ — Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor Michael Posner, is travelling to Colombia and Mexico April 19-23. This trip will continue discussions on human rights issues with government officials, including Colombia’s President Uribe, and non-governmental organizations in both countries. We hope these meetings will lay the groundwork for future bilateral discussions on human rights.
In Colombia, Assistant Secretary Posner will have meetings and site visits in Bogota, Medellin, and Tumaco, a Pacific Coast town near the Ecuadoran border. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor hopes to establish regular discussions and cooperation that will carry on in the future. Colombia has made significant progress on a number of fronts (including human rights), and the security situation in the country has improved substantially –although a number of important human rights issues still need to be addressed, and we want to continue to support Colombia as it seeks to further strengthen its democracy.
In Mexico Assistant Secretary Posner’s meetings include initial visits with government officials and representatives of non-governmental organizations in Mexico City. These meetings will help shape the agenda for a June dialogue with the Mexican Government that will cover human rights issues of concern.
