Together with human rights organisations, we have addressed a joint letter to EU and Latin American and Caribbean leaders raising concerns about the growing securitisation and militarisation of public life and their impact on human rights defenders, civil society and the rule of law.
We highlight how security narratives and measures can contribute to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of human rights defenders, restrictions on civic space and the weakening of democratic safeguards. We call on EU-CELAC leaders to ensure that security and investment policies are firmly grounded in human rights, the rule of law and international standards.