Celeo AlvarezBlack Central American Leaders Make their Presence Known in the U.S. *The political, economic, social, cultural and environmental situation of Afro-Central American communities.
Posted on March 17, 2008
The Board of Directors of the Central American Black Organization (ONECA) made an important political tour in Washington, D.C., and New York, from March 2 through March 10. On this tour, the Board was represented by leaders from Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the United States.
Topics addressed were:
*Regional conferences to assess Central America’s implementation of the declarations and action plans resulting from the World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa, and the preparatory conference held in Santiago de Chile.
*Conferences to assess development, exclusion, racism and racial discrimination against indigenous and Black Central Americans.
*The celebration of ONECA’s 14th General Assembly and the mobilization of delegations from Central America, South America, North America and the Caribbean.
*Institutional strengthening of ONECA, registration in the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN), and informing the people and government of the United States about our causes.
*Regional project to protect the environment and to boost Afro-Central American economic development and entrepreneurship.
*Afro-Descendants’ human rights leadership training school.
*Ownership of Afro-Central American territory.
*Afro-Central American tourism.
*Human rights and migration.
*African Heritage Month in Honduras, the Garifuna Bicentennial +11, and the Second Garifuna and Afro-Caribbean Grand Cultural Carnival.
*Childhood, adolescence and youth.
*Gender and development.
During the tour, the Board met with:
*Inter-American Foundation *Global Rights *Secretariat of Summits of the Americas (OAS) *Inter-American Development Bank
*Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS)
*U.S. Department of State
*Pan American Development Foundation
*Department of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness (OAS)
*Inter-American Convention Against Racism Working Group (OAS)
*World Bank
*United Nations Children's Fund
*United Nations Development Program
*United Nations Development Fund for Women
*The Ford Foundation
*Conservation International
*U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.)
*Ambassador of Honduras to the UN
*Embassy of Taiwan
*Media
During our stay in New York City, the Board also participated in a community meeting convened by the Garifuna Culture Unification Organization, as well as the forum on women’s rights organized Mirtha Colon, ONECA’s Secretary of Women's Affairs and president of Hondurans Against AIDS Inc.
We extend our gratitude to all the people and institutions that gave of their time to accompany us, as well as those who organized our agenda and sponsored our transportation, lodging and food, during the tour.
Celeo Alvarez Casildo is the president of the Ethnic Community Development Organization and the Central American Black Organization. He can be reached at calvarez@caribe.hn.
