‘People don’t have chains on their arms and legs now,’ says Ronald Cadet, a young Haitian. ‘But they still have chains in their minds.
‘When you can’t get enough food or decent housing, you’re not living in a free country.’
More than 200 years ago, Haiti erupted in the world’s first and only successful slave rebellion. It terrified a generation of slaveowners and spurred on Britain’s abolitionist movement until it finally won the day with the ending of the British slave trade almost exactly two centuries ago, in March 1807.
But Haiti is still looking for freedom.
It’s a search that most of Latin America and the Caribbean share. The world’s most unequal continent is still, today, looking for justice.
What marks the region is the enormous vibrancy of its social moments, many of which we support. Groups such as Brazil’s Movement of the Landless, which has helped millions of landless families to establish farms and feed their families.
Or groups such as the Community Movement of Matagalpa, in Nicaragua. It is helping communities adapt to global warming by organising ‘reforestation brigades’ and strengthening riverbanks with sandbags to prevent flooding.
Freedom!
Elsewhere in Central America, our partners are helping to build a broad coalition for change by supporting campaigns against privatisation and free trade agreements.
‘My ambition was that we would create something universal, that is about suffering, hoping, fighting – what humanity is about’
Our Freedom! sculpture project, created by young Haitians and a group of Haitian artists using recycled objects, from car parts to junk found in the slums of the capital Port-au-Prince, commemorates the end of the slave trade and the fight for justice. It tours the UK this year before going on permanent display at Liverpool’s new International Slavery Museum, opening 23 August.
Mario Benjamin, artistic director for Freedom!, said: ‘My ambition was that we would create something universal, that is about suffering, hoping, fighting – what humanity is about.’
Death threats
But while many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean – particularly those with recently elected left-leaning governments – are taking some steps to help their people, the terrible scar of human rights' abuses persists.
In Colombia, civil war has been raging for more than four decades, creating the second highest number of internal refugees in the world. One member of Justice and Peace, a human rights group Christian Aid supports, received an invitation in the post to his own funeral – a threat designed to stop him exposing abuses by the army and paramilitary groups.
Peace accords have ended civil wars in Central America and truth commissions have shed light on horrific human rights violations in Peru, Guatemala and El Salvador that would otherwise have been swept under the carpet. But the absence of war has not brought about lasting peace. The root causes of conflict – including poverty – have not been addressed.
American nightmare
Latin America and the Caribbean are dominated by their northern neighbour, the United States. Economic and political relations have tended to make the US richer, rather than bringing justice and prosperity south. The poor migrate north, leaving their families behind to rely on anything their breadwinners can send home.
Our 148 partners in Latin America and the Caribbean work to find innovative, lasting solutions – from better ways of earning a living in the remote altiplano of the Andes, to campaigning against job losses brought about by trade agreements. We are proud to be one of few British and Irish agencies working actively in Latin America and the Caribbean and with such inspiring partners.