Transcription
With the objective of promoting the campaign Traces to Remember, which seeks to keep alive the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and work in defense of human rights, Dr. William Soto, Global Ambassador of the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace, and Federico Franco, President of Paraguay, held a meeting on February 18, 2013, at the presidential residence.
Mburuvicha Roga Presidential Residence
President Franco expressed his support for the project, considering it vital to promote knowledge about the genocides that have occurred in the history of humanity to youth in schools and universities in order to raise awareness about the importance of respect for human beings regardless of culture, belief or nationality.
Doctor Soto emphasized that one of the objectives of Traces to Remember is to raise awareness around the world that we are susceptible to the repetition of acts like the Holocaust if we stay indifferent or inactive under these circumstances. He also stressed the need for government officials to pass laws that help us remember the lessons of history in an effective, simple and peaceful manner, so that countries are free of acts of discrimination and intolerance.
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The meeting concluded with the commitment to develop projects together within the Paraguayan society that strengthen respect for human dignity.
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After meeting with the President, a meeting was held with Emilia Alfaro de Franco, First Lady of Paraguay and Second Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.
And with the purpose of expanding Traces to Remember and carrying out activities that fulfill the objectives of the project, the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace, the Office of the First Lady, and the Tesape'a Paraguay Association signed a joint Agreement, of which the first clause states:
"The principal objective of this Agreement is to establish multi-institutional relations between the Office of the First Lady, the Tesape'a Paraguay Association, and the Embassy of Activists for Peace; to agree on a conventional framework in which the participating institutions can work to strengthen projects in favor of peace, harmony, the defense of human rights, and alternative solutions to conflicts, among others."
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Dr. Soto mentioned the events that took place in Paraguay between 1865 and 1870 during the War of the Triple Alliance, which many historians refer to as the American Genocide. Using this example, he highlighted the fact that these events have not been foreign to the reality of Latin America and therefore there is a great responsibility to educate future generations so that they become defenders of respect for human dignity.
The Agreement was signed by First Lady Emilia Alfaro de Franco and the Executive President of the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace, Jose Benjamin Perez
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Among other things, the First Lady stated that the project Traces to Remember will be introduced at universities and other educational institutions associated with her administration in order to promote the goals of this project, which seek to prevent the repetition of human rights violations.