Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera
Violencia de Estado, Tortura e Impunidad
Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera Testimony
Human rights organisations and human rights defenders cannot honourably serve both the market and human rights from the pretext of a neutral position. In this struggle neutrality is not an option.
Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera is the director of the Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia Estatal – ITEI (Institute of Therapy and Investigation into the After-effects of Torture and State Violence). The ITEI is an independent organisation which works on defending citizens against violations of their human rights by the State. The institution denounces instances of torture in police and military centres, carries out forensic medical inspections in torture cases, has presented a draft law on Torture and is working on the creation of a National Prevention Mechanism which would be independent of the state. Recently, Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera has publicly worked on and denounced a case of alleged police torture.
The environment for human rights defenders in any sector in Bolivia can be quite hostile. Human rights defenders face continuous attacks, threats and acts of intimidation in the country. The lack of response from the government is particularly worrisome and organisations – especially those which work to denounce human rights violations and abuses by the State – have suffered constant harassment and stigmatisation.
