Dutch by birth, Florentine by choice, Imco Brouwer had just been named director of the RFK Training Institute in Florence of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFKC; www.rfkcenter.org) when TF interviewed him. Although new to the RFKC, it is clear that his years of experience will undoubtedly be an asset. Throughout his career, Brouwer has worked on international migration, human rights, democratization, higher education, international cooperation and conflict resolution and prevention, focusing on regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean in general, as well as Europe and the United States, at universities and in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). TF spoke to him about RFKC and its European branch which recently moved to Florence’s Le Murate, and its activities here in the city.
Why and when was the center established?
The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights was established in 1968 as a living memorial to Robert F. Kennedy. The center seeks to empower individuals, working through alliances and organizations, to generate change in human rights and social justice issues across the world. We hope to aid human-rights defenders through sustained, strategic partnerships and extend their reach to the world’s leaders: legislators, diplomats, international institutions, and corporations. The RFKC works with human rights defenders, NGOs, universities, legal clinics, and the media. We also offer training on human-rights issues.
What does the RFKC/Europe do?
RFKC/Europe was created in Rome in 2005 to promote and build on the work of the U.S.-based RFKC across Europe and the world. The Kennedy family has always had strong ties to Italy, particularly Tuscany, so it was decided to open the European chapter here. RFKC/Europe’s goal is to bring human rights education and advocacy programs to European schools and communities. We organize training programs, including courses and workshops for high schools and universities, and collaborate with human rights leaders, associations and NGOs throughout Europe and the world to develop human rights and social justice strategies.
RFKC/Europe moved from Rome to Florence earlier this year. Why?
There were several reasons behind the decision to transfer operations here to Florence. First, Tuscany has a long and distinguished history in human rights, and we thought it would be the best place for a center like ours. Secondly, Florence is a hub for higher education. In addition to the University of Florence, there are dozens of American and foreign universities with campuses here, including the European University Institute in Fiesole. Because an important part of our mission is human rights training, the move was rather natural. Finally, we were offered the opportunity to enter into partnership with the City of Florence, which in turn, allowed us to occupy the wonderful spaces of Le Murate. Being located in Le Murate was also very important to us because it was a former prison. We are fighting for human rights across the world in Florence from within a former prison.
Who are the defenders?
We try to make a difference in the human-rights field by speaking through our ‘defenders.’ These are persons that fight for a range of human rights throughout the world. Through our work, we come into contact with them, so we decided in 1984 to dedicate an award to them and their outstanding work and courage: the RFK Human Rights Award.
Every November, we hold the award ceremony in Washington. Senator Ted Kennedy used to bestow the award. In 2010, President Obama bestowed it. In 2011, Ugandan LGBTI rights activist Frank Mugisha received the RFK Human Rights Award.
How do you decide who gets the award?
We actually put the decision of who gets the award to our subscribers. All of the subscribers to www.rfkcenter.org receive an e-mail in the summer, asking them to provide the name of a human rights defender or activist who is active in their country. This year on November 14 in the U.S. Senate, we will give the award to Librada Paz, who is an activist supporting the rights of farm workers in the United States, and more recently those in New York. After the awards are given, the laureates start a six-year partnership with the RFKC, which offers both a monetary contribution to their cause and gives them access to the advocacy division of the centre, putting them into contact with NGOs and the media so they can advance their fight for justice.
What is Speak Truth to Power?
It is one of our most important projects of the RFKC. Through the project, we use the experiences of courageous human-rights defenders from around the world to educate students and others about human rights and urge them to take action. Issues range from slavery and environmental activism to religious self-determination and political participation.
We have created an educational package based on a book by Kerry Kennedy, in which she gathers interviews with 50 human-rights defenders, some of whom, like the Dalai Lama, are very famous, while others are only well known in their home countries.
The educational packages are currently used in Italy, Romania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and Africa. The content is adapted to each country and educational level. In Italy, the educational package has been distributed to middle and high schools since the 2008-2009 academic year. To date, it has been distributed to 350,000 students across Italy. Because it is also provided to teachers for free, we ask our donors to help us cover the costs.
We also organize workshops for students and teachers on Speak Truth to Power, most recently at the Internet Festival in Pisa in October. In November, a defender of the rights of the mentally ill, Gabor Gombos, from Hungary, will be visiting Florence and speaking at local schools.
What is the RFK Training Institute?
The RFK Training Institute was established this year and is based at the RFKC/Europe. It organizes training programs for human rights activists (teaching them, for example, strategies and skills of using digital tools); professionals such as journalists, lawyers and teachers; executives, human resource directors and others working for corporations; and a range of government officials, like prosecutors and judges. Participants will come from Florence, Tuscany, Italy, Europe and the entire world. The RFK Training Institute in Florence will be fully integrated with our programs based in the U.S. and aims to become a major global human rights training institute, contributing to improving human rights records globally. While the training programs will start in early 2013, I would like to mention an important event entitled, US Elections 2012: The Role of the US in Promoting Human Rights in Historical and Comparative Perspectives, which will take place on November 5 and 6. (See Community News on page 2 for details.)
Do you hold any events for the general public?
Yes, on the last Tuesday of each month we hold Human Rights Tuesday Nights, in collaboration with the Caffè Letterario Le Murate and Controradio, also based here in Le Murate. It is a radio talk show with three special guests working the field of human rights, one of which is an activist or defender. Each month we focus on a different issue and the events are held in Italian and English. Our topic for October 30 is human rights in prisons, and on November 27 we will address the issue of domestic violence. Attending the event is free, and it can be heard later, also free, at www.rfkennedyeurope.org.
I hear you are having a special, fund-raising event for Thanksgiving.
Fund-raising is an important part of our overall mission. So, we have partnered with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and local businesses to hold a special Thanksgiving weekend in Florence and Tuscany. From November 22 to 25, 2012, participants can go on wine and food-tasting tours in the Chianti region; they can tour Florence and Tuscany in a historic Fiat Cinquecento; or take part in special cooking classes with top chefs. The main event, however, is a gala opera in collaboration with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Zubin Mehta, taking place on November 24. Guests will attend Turandot by Giacomo Puccini in Florence’s new Opera House.
Special guests that evening will include Kerry Kennedy, president of the RFKC and honorary president of the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation of Europe; and defender Marina Pisklakova, a leading activist for women’s rights in Russia who fights domestic violence. During the evening, there will be a lottery and a live auction of photographs by Harry Benson, to be showcased in an exhibition, entitled Presidents. Proceeds of the weekend have a common denominator: supporting the activities of the RFKC in Italy, and in particular the RFK Training Institute in Florence.
