Since last August, the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) has expressed its concern for the growing number of threats and murders of defenders of human rights in Colombia, including social and community leaders and journalists.
At this time, LASA expresses its rejection of the attempt to make victims of various social leaders and human rights defenders from Cauca, among them Carlos Rosero and Francia Marquez. Rosero is the founder of Proceso de Comunidades Negras (PCN), one of the largest Afro-Colombian organizations in the country; he was one of the winners of the 2006 LASA award “Otros Saberes”, which involved a collaborative investigation jointing the academic world and civil society, and an academic publication and co-organizer of an academic panel in the last LASA congress in Barcelona in 2018.
About LASA
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest professional association in the world for individuals and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America. With over 13,000 members, over 60% of whom reside outside the United States, LASA is the one association that brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors, across the globe. LASA's mission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate.
If you wish to interview a LASA Executive Council member, you can contact the LASA communications office at (412) 648-7929 or send an email to lasa@lasaweb.org.