On January 31, 2017, Freedom House released its “Freedom in the World 2017” report, an annual report that rates political and civil rights around the world. For the 11th consecutive year, Freedom House found that every region in the world experienced a decline in freedom, stating that: “a total of 67 countries suffered net declines…
On December 4, 2016, Venezuelan democracy activists initiated a sit-in at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Italy, and urged Vatican representatives to support the release of Venezuela’s 108 political prisoners. Lilian Tintori, wife of imprisoned Leopoldo Lopez, her mother-in-law Antonieta Lopez, and Mitzy Capriles, wife of the jailed mayor Antonio Ledezma, were among several demonstrators…
The World Movement for Democracy welcomes the release of Venezuelan political prisoner and prominent opposition activist, Rosmit Mantilla. On November 17, 2016, Mantilla was freed after being arbitrarily detained for 2.5 years in Venezuela due to charges stemming from the country’s 2014 student protests. In the 2015 elections, he became the first openly gay politician…
November 13, 2016, marked Venezuelan political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez’s 1,000th day in prison. Many Latin Americans, including the former President of Uruguay, spoke out in support of Lopez, who is also the leader of the Venezuelan opposition political party, Voluntad Popular. Democracy activists organized under #LiberenAleopoldo to call for the release of Lopez, as well…