Nelson Rivas is a consultant and lecturer on human rights issues and a volunteer with Amnesty International Venezuela.  He received his master's degree in Economics from the Universidad de Los Andes. He is an alumnus of the course on the Inter-American System of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Economic and Social Rights of the Center for the Study of Law, Justice and Society and Transitional Justice of the Universidad Católica Andrés. Nelson has co-authored scientific articles and research reports on human rights. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Diploma on Human Rights Focused on the Police Function

The project educated 34 officers of the Venezuelan State security forces through 10 theoretical-practical sessions on human rights, mechanisms and responsibilities in the various uses of force, protection of vulnerable groups and gender equity. To reduce police malpractice, the course raised awareness about the mechanisms of action available to security officers and their responsibilities in accordance with national and international legislation. To learn more about the initiative, please view this video: Diplomado en Derechos Humanos y función policial - Mérida 21 de octubre 2023 - YouTube.

"We have committed faults in the use of public force, now we see it and we are going to correct it." - Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Nelson participated in the IVLP Project Human Rights Across the Americas, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas, in partnership with Global Ties Arizona, San Diego Diplomacy Council, and Global New Orleans.

Nelson's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "We visited the Scottsdale Police Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where the central theme was human trafficking and the role of the police force in the prevention, control and monitoring of human trafficking."

U.S. Communities Visited

Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA

Country: Venezuela 

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