New Video on Human Rights Violations in Venezuela; Thor Halvorssen on Fox Business Tonight with David Asman

NEW YORK (November 30, 2007) -- In an effort to better communicate the pressing issues of human rights in Venezuela, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) released a 4-minute video today on YouTube. The video effectively conveys the troubling situation faced by every citizen of Venezuela who values individual rights and democracy. HRF President Thor Halvorssen will be appearing on Fox Business with David Asman tonight at 7:30 PM EST. He will be discussing human rights and the upcoming referendum in Venezuela.

The Caracas Nine program humanizes the current struggle against political persecution while providing an opportunity to assist survivors of human rights abuses. The nine cases are by no means an exhaustive number, but they are emblematic of the current political and social climate in Venezuela.

We invite you to watch this video and forward it to your friends. A focus of the effort is to free Francisco Usón, a former cabinet secretary sentenced to five and a half years in prison for expressing concern about human rights abuses. Find out what you can do for the Caracas Nine by visiting: www.CaracasNine.com.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the American hemisphere. 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’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

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