WHAT : Week of Activities “From Lima to Madrid : fighting for justice in EU - Latin American economic relations” (November 16th to 18th)

A Public rally will be held in front of the European Commission (Rond-Point Schuman), followed by a European Parliament hearing titled : “From Lima to Madrid : fighting for justice in EU - Latin American economic relations”, convened to present an overview of the main human rights violations of European transnational corporations in Latin America, as well as the role of European policies and institutions in the creation of a legal-judicial framework that allows transnational corporations to act with impunity.

WHEN and WHERE : On Wednesday, November 18th the public rally will be held (12:30-1.30 pm) in front of the EC (Rond-Point Schuman) prior to the hearing at the European Parliament (3:00-6:30 pm - Room 4Q1).

BACKGROUND : A delegation of 70 representatives of social movements and civil society organisations from the Bi-regional Network Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean “Enlazando Alternativas” will meet in Brussels from November 16 to 18 to denounce the complicity of the EU institutions and member States in the systematic human rights violations committed by transnational corporations and to reject the 7th Round of free trade negotiations between the EU, Colombia and Peru, starting today in Bogotá (Colombia).

The delegation contains representatives from trade unions, indigenous movements, women’s networks, NGOs, as well as environmentalists, human rights defenders and local communities affected by European transnational corporations from the Mercosur countries, Andean Region, Central America and Europe.

Sebastian Valdomir (Uruguay), one of the delegates expressed "It is extremely important that all citizens in Europe are aware of the gross abuses and violations being committed by some European firms in Latin America. This situation will be exacerbated by the Association Agreements that the EU is negotiating with the governments of Peru and Colombia, which are also responsible for serious human rights violations amongst their own populations".

  Interviews with key social movement leaders and researchers from Latin America and Europe.

 Photo opportunity during Rally.

For further information and to arrange interviews : +32 – 484 – 170 – 247 / +32 – 474 – 363 - 077. E-mail : red.enlazandoalternativas@gmail.com