CERLAC REVIEW 

NEWSLETTER   ISSUE No. 30   2004-2005   
 
   Newsletter of the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean

 

PAGE CONTENT

NEWS

 

 

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

By Viviana Patroni

Another year has gone by and we have a large number of events and initiatives to report. This newsletter is the way in which we would like to share our activities with you and also encourage you to give us your feedback. As always, we expect that our activities will transcend the walls of our university to contribute to the research endeavours of colleagues in the region as they seek ways to become part of the construction of a more fair and equitable society, particularly at this very important juncture in the hemisphere.

Last year was a particularly fruitful year for us, both in terms of initiatives with some history at the Centre and the also the launching of new ventures that are key in projecting our energy toward the future. Most rewarding has been our colleagues’ continued efforts and achievements in the area of migration studies. Following our very successful conference in 2003 on the subject, CERLAC has continued its collaboration with the International Migration and Development Network for the organization of another seminar, this time in Cuernavaca, Mexico. As a result of this meeting, CERLAC’s representatives signed the “Cuernavaca Declaration,” calling for the full protection of migrant’s rights (see Cuernavaca Declaration on the CERLAC News Page. We have also been involved in a project seeking to improve our knowledge on the impact of remittances (see Caribbean Remittance on the Projects Page).

Another theme  that has been quite important to us for many years has been indigenous rights. Last year CERLAC and UCGS held a conference on the subject that brought together a number of activists and academics from the hemisphere (see UCGS on the Projects Page). Thanks to all the organizers of the conference for the opportunity they created to share experiences of so much value in understanding the complex issues involved in the protection and extension of community rights. 

Last October we held the 6th Annual Jagan Lecture, this year with the participation of Professor Carolyn Cooper from the University of the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica (see Jagan Lecture on the Events Page). It was a very special event that generated an extraordinary interest among scholars and the community in general. We are very thankful to the organizing committee of this Lecture Series for their continuing commitment to the success of the event. 

We have also been very fortunate to receive the visit of a number of academics and activists from Latin America and the Caribbean, who carried out research and delivered seminars on a wide range of themes of relevance to the region. They provide privileged access to the realities of the region for our community within the university and southern Ontario. 

Our work in the creation of a Latin American Network on Human Rights Education and Research (RedLEIDH) has gained momentum over the last few months and we are delighted about this development. I would like to extend, on behalf of CERLAC, a very special welcome to Bill Fairbain as the Project Coordinator. Bill brings to the project the experience gained over years of work in support of the protection of human rights in Latin America, first through his work with the Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA) and later with KAIROS. Benjamin Cornejo, previously CERLAC’s Project Coordinator, has also taken a leading role in the development of the programs and activities related to the project. 

As the news from our Fellows makes clear, we have several reasons to be proud about the achievement of those associated with the Centre. I would like to single out the important recognition Dr. Liisa North received last year in being awarded the 2005 Pio Jaramillo Alvarado Award for her significant contributions to knowledge of Latin American societies, and especially Ecuadorian society (see Liisa on the Fellows Page). Liisa, our heartfelt congratulations for an honour greatly deserved! 

Finally, I would like to recognize the contribution of my colleagues who make possible the achievement of our goals as a research centre. Thanks also to Shana Yael Shubs, our Centre Coordinator, for the care with which she undertakes the administration and coordination of our activities. Our deepest appreciation also to the team of graduate students who every year provide invaluable assistance in the running of the Centre.

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CERLAC Fellows sign the Cuernavaca Declaration on Migration and Development

 

"Migrants are not just anonymous producers of dollars"

The Cuernavaca Declaration, signed by experts participating in a conference on "Problems and Challenges of Migration and Development in the Americas" in Mexico, calls into question the "development agenda set out by migrant exporting governments [that] identifies migrants and their remittances as strategic resources that can or should solve the economic and social woes of their nations."

 

The conference, held in Cuernavaca, Mexico, was co-sponsored by the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) of York University, the International Migration and Development Network, and the Regional Centre for Multidisciplinary Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The conference brought together academics and other experts, government functionaries and migrant organization leaders to engage in critical discussions about the impact of international migration on the dynamics of development in labour sending and receiving countries of our continent. CERLAC Fellows and York University faculty members Luin Goldring, Alan Simmons and Judith Adler Hellman participated in the conference.

 

The Declaration, with a strong critique of neoliberal economic policy and an important reminder of the need to respect and protect the full range of migrant rights, notes that, "international migration has been silently incorporated into government strategies, generating an economic model that distorts the concept of development, basing it on the export of workers and capture of remittances." It calls instead for radical change and the development of a "model that can reduce growing North-South asymmetries and address the root causes of migration, so that people have more options available within their home country, including the option not to emigrate."

 

The Cuernavaca Declaration has been published in English by CERLAC. See here for full program information and the Declaration in Spanish.

 

For more information, please contact Luin Goldring or CERLAC, 416.736.5237.

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CERLAC STAFF

Bill Fairbairn is the Project Coordinator for CERLAC’s RedLEIDH project. Prior to coming to CERLAC he worked with the Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA), a human rights organization established by the Canadian churches after the military coup in Chile. Over the years he has closely monitored the human rights situation in Latin America, particulalry in Colombia. Welcome to CERLAC, Bill!

Benjamin Cornejo has been CERLAC’s Project Coordinator since 2001. He manages the finances of the centre and its various projects. His background includes more than 12 years of experience managing systems information projects in Central America. He recently completed a Graduate program at Ryerson on Spatial Analysis and Geographical Information Systems.

Shana Yael Shubs is CERLAC’s Administrative Assistant, coordinating CERLAC’s events, programs and publications. She completed her Masters degree in Environmental Studies this year, focusing on protest, the media and social change in contemporary Argentina. She is very grateful to Viviana, Benjamin and the fantastic GAs for making her first year at CERLAC so enjoyable!