From Washington, D.C., we once again witnessed something that is deeply connected to the spirit of the Articulate Foundation: cooperation can multiply capabilities when it brings together civil society, the private sector, philanthropy, talent, and communities around a common cause.
As part of our advocacy agenda in Washington, we held a fundraising event to support women imprisoned for political reasons and the families of political prisoners in Venezuela—many of whom are women who have spent years accompanying, caring for, speaking out on behalf of, and supporting their families.
It was particularly meaningful to have with us that evening Gloria Monique de Mees, Commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS), who currently has Venezuela among her country reports. That very morning, she had attended a hearing in which Venezuelan organizations brought before the Inter-American System the reality the country continues to face. Hours later, her presence at our dinner and her words of solidarity reminded us of something essential: in adverse contexts such as Venezuela’s, the defense of human rights and solidarity cannot be understood separately.
International mechanisms are essential for documenting, protecting, demanding accountability, and keeping the spotlight on human rights violations. But that defense also requires a human dimension: standing with those who have been victimized, supporting their families, and enabling organizations working within the country to continue their work.
That is why it holds enormous symbolic value when representatives of the Inter-American System also share in these moments of solidarity. It reminds us that behind every hearing, report, or recommendation there are people and families who continue to face the consequences of repression, and organizations that need resources and partnerships to support them.
The event also brought together members of the Venezuelan community, human rights organizations, individuals associated with the Inter-American System, and participants who were in Washington for the IACHR hearings. The presence of young Venezuelans who wanted to express their solidarity with those who continue to face the consequences of repression within the country was also particularly significant.
Venezuelan talent was also on display. Migrant artists contributed their music and creativity, reminding us that the diaspora not only stands with Venezuela from afar but also continues to put its skills at the service of those who remain in the country. Similarly, El Toque generously made its space available for this gathering, transforming a restaurant into a place for us to meet, support one another, and mobilize solidarity.
For us, this experience represents precisely the kind of ecosystem of cooperation we want to continue building: civil society, the private sector, philanthropy, migrant communities, Venezuelan talent, and international allies pooling their capabilities to sustain concrete actions.
In contexts like Venezuela’s, where organizations face enormous difficulties in sustaining their work, these partnerships make a real difference. Cooperation doesn’t always start with large structures: often it begins when someone provides a space, another person contributes their talent, someone makes a donation, an organization coordinates, and a community decides to lend its support. When these capabilities come together, they form a network capable of sustaining the work that takes place every day in Venezuela.
That is also the spirit we share with the Articulate Foundation: using our capabilities, networks, innovation, and cooperation to amplify the impact of those working under particularly difficult conditions.
The funds raised will allow us to continue supporting the work of organizations and networks in Venezuela, especially in supporting women and families affected by political persecution. But the campaign remains open, and so do the needs.
That is why we want to invite our community and those who believe in this form of cooperation to continue supporting the campaign. Every contribution helps organizations within Venezuela continue to support, document, defend rights, and sustain those who need it most.
Because in Venezuela, defending rights also means supporting those who defend them and standing with those who have suffered rights violations.
And because solidarity isn’t just about standing by people. It’s about making it possible for the work to continue.
We invite everyobody to keep this work going and be part of this community by supporting this program: https://articulatefoundation.org/programs/women-led-csos-and-humanitarian-action-fund/
