HRF Mourns the Loss of Eduardo Mendoza

NEW YORK (August 26, 2009) – Eduardo Mendoza-Goiticoa, founding director of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), former Venezuelan Secretary of Agriculture, scientific researcher and head of the Venezuelan Institute for Immigration, died yesterday afternoon at the age of 92.

Mendoza began his public service at the age of 28, when he became the youngest cabinet minister in Venezuelan history during the government of Romulo Betancourt. Mendoza’s tenure in government oversaw all work with the International Refugee Organization (which would become the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and handled the protection and resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees coming from war-torn Europe. Mendoza’s refugee program was widely considered the most successful in the post-war period.

After serving the Betancourt government, Mendoza was a member of the underground leadership that, during the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez, planned the general strike that eventually brought down the dictator and restored Venezuelan democracy.

Mendoza’s generosity to HRF and his vision were instrumental in ensuring that HRF expand its geographical scope. HRF, its staff, and all who benefit from its work are profoundly grateful to Eduardo Mendoza-Goiticoa for his life and legacy. We mourn the loss of this courageous public servant and human rights advocate.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the Americas. It centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF does not support nor condone violence. HRF’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Contact: Thor Halvorssen, Human Rights Foundation, (+212)246.8486, info@thehrf.org