Zarai Maza Emerges as a Hemispheric Leader in Human Rights and Social Strategy.

Zarai Maza Emerges as a Hemispheric Leader in Human Rights and Social Strategy at the OEA — The Organization of American States, based in Washington, D.C., unites 35 countries to promote democracy and human rights across the Americas.
With a presence across three continents, over 400 scholarships awarded, and a growing diplomatic agenda, Maza is redefining the role of civil society in the defense of fundamental rights.
Miami, FL - June 17, 2025 - In a global context marked by democratic fragility, forced displacement, and the erosion of fundamental freedoms, Zarai Maza has emerged as one of the most influential voices in the Western Hemisphere. Her work blends grassroots action, institutional development, and strategic presence in multilateral spaces, positioning her as a leader capable of connecting civil society with centers of political decision-making.
In March of this year, she was invited to speak at the Hall of the Americas at the Organization of American States (OAS), where she shared the panel with Secretary General Dr. Luis Almagro and other prominent guests during the Hispanic Voices for Human Rights Summit, organized by AMAVEX in collaboration with the OAS. Her speech, titled 'Migrating as a Professional: The Emotional Challenge of Starting Over', served as a powerful call to recognize the contribution of displaced professionals to the development of host countries.
Former OAS Secretary General Dr. Luis Almagro Honored at the Hispanic Voices for Human Rights Summit — AMAVEX Presents Award for His Legacy in Defending Human Rights, with Zarai Maza Among Distinguished Participants.
In July 2024, she was a panelist and co-sponsor of the Human Rights Summit at the United Nations Headquarters, invited by United for Human Rights. During the Human Rights in Action panel, she discussed the challenges of turning human rights into tangible realities and presented measurable results from her international campaigns. She also proposed a strategic collaboration model between governments and civil society for the coming decade.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/aV2km-dJ6ro
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/aV2km-dJ6ro
As the founder and executive director of the Guardians of Human Rights Foundation, Maza has built an active network across more than 15 countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, leading programs focused on human rights education, youth leadership, women's empowerment, and the prevention of violence and drug abuse. Under her leadership, the foundation has awarded more than 400 institutional scholarships in partnership with U.S. universities, helping migrants and refugees access master's and bachelor's degree programs.
Through its programs and campaigns, the foundation has reached more than 4.4 million people globally, mobilized over 5,620 human rights advocates, and maintains an active presence on three continents.
Maza's journey has taken her from forums in India and Japan to multilateral platforms, local governments, and universities throughout the Americas and Europe. Her work has been recognized by the White House, the United States Congress, and multiple municipalities that have issued official proclamations in support of her awareness and education campaigns.
Maza leads not only through action, but also through vision. Her 2025–2030 agenda includes the launch of an International Youth Leadership Network, the establishment of Regional Human Rights Centers in Latin America and Asia, and the formal recognition of her foundation as a consultative actor before multilateral bodies.
Born in Venezuela and forced into exile in 2017, she has transformed her personal story into a platform for global action.
She no longer speaks solely as a witness to exile, but as a builder of solutions to the greatest human rights challenges of our time.
About Zarai Maza:
Zarai Maza is an international speaker, university professor, strategist, and the founder and executive director of the Guardians of Human Rights Foundation. She is widely recognized as one of the most prominent voices in the hemisphere on human rights. Maza has represented civil society in high-level forums such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States, and her work has been honored by the White House, the U.S. Congress, and local governments across the Americas and Europe. Her leadership has driven impactful programs in community empowerment, human rights education, youth leadership, violence prevention, and access to higher education for migrants and refugees. She is currently advancing a global agenda focused on empowering youth, fostering international cooperation, and defending fundamental rights in an increasingly complex world.(Press Release by Reinaldo Vandres - PR Director)
Media Contact
Company Name: Guardians of Human Rights Foundation
Contact Person: Reinaldo Vandres - PR Director
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 (727)-367-6895
City: Miami
State: Florida
Country: United States
Website: https://www.gohumanrights.com/
Source: Aknanda Productions PR & Branding Content Services

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Bloomberg

a day ago

• Bloomberg

Under New Leadership, OAS Is Determined to Show Progress on Haiti

Amid pressure from Washington to resolve the crisis in Haiti, the new head of the Western Hemisphere's top multilateral organization pledged to work with the United Nations and international donors to chart a roadmap for peace in the violence-torn island nation. In an interview, Organization of American States Secretary General Albert Ramdin described finding a solution for Haiti as a 'moral obligation.'

Atlantic

2 days ago

• Atlantic

Venezuela Is Open for Investment*

The end of Nicolás Maduro's vicious dictatorship, many people can agree, would be a good thing. Millions of Venezuelans certainly want it; various members of the Trump administration have said they want it, too. The European Parliament passed a resolution urging world leaders to support Venezuela's opposition to Maduro as a ' moral duty.' And yet, leaders of that opposition have felt the need to come up with a more persuasive message: Helping Venezuela's democratic cause is not just about doing the right thing, they imply. It's also a chance to make bank. Last Thursday, members of the press were invited to a Gilded Age mansion in Manhattan for a presentation titled 'A Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: The Global Upside of a Democratic Venezuela.' At the center of the event was María Corina Machado, the woman who campaigned for president of Venezuela last year and would very likely have won, had Maduro's regime not banned her from running and then declared victory over her substitute in what a Washington, D.C.–based think tank called 'the mother of all electoral frauds.' (The Organization of American States agrees that ' electoral fraud ' took place.) On a videochat from her hiding place in Caracas, Machado told the audience, in English, 'Today, Venezuela stands on the brink of a historic transformation.' She was referring to a democratic transition, which she expressed confidence would soon happen—and to 'the immense wealth-generation potential' that this transition would unleash. 'This opportunity extends beyond our borders,' she said. International investors would 'benefit from unparalleled conditions starting on day one.' What followed was not so much a press conference as a pitch to Wall Street. Sary Levy-Carciente, an economist on Machado's team, took the microphone. Should the opposition come to power, 'we are talking about 10 percent per year growth,' Levy-Carciente said, as aides handed out flyers listing sectors that would blossom under a hypothetical Machado-led government. These included tourism, where Venezuela is a 'sleeping giant'; real estate, where 'huge, huge profits' await; and, of course, fossil fuels, given that 'Venezuela boasts the world's largest oil reserves and the eighth-largest natural-gas reserves.' In 15 years, the money to be made from a democratic Venezuela—based on 'conservative assumptions,' investors could rest assured—amounted to $1.7 trillion. Machado's team did not explicitly address the precondition for unlocking this bonanza: the end of a 26-year dictatorship whose leader doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. In the past year, Maduro has ramped up repression, disappeared prominent activists, and imprisoned even low-profile protesters. An atmosphere of fear has swept Venezuela. The presentation called for investment in a democratic Venezuela that doesn't yet exist, without providing any guidance as to how exactly it was going to come into being. If Machado's team had anyone in mind to facilitate this transition—say, someone in the Trump administration—no one said so. Still, given that American financiers can do very little on their own to usher in the end of dictatorships in South America, Trump officials, if not Donald Trump himself, seemed to be the ultimate audience for the Machado team's new message—suggesting a new perception, among Venezuelan opposition leaders, of what will move the Trump administration to help their cause. During the first Trump administration, the notion that Washington might deliver Venezuela from Maduro didn't seem all that far-fetched (and didn't seem to require a profit motive). Trump often condemned Venezuela's dictatorship. In front of an excited crowd of Venezuelans in Miami in 2019, the president proclaimed that Maduro's days were numbered. He recognized Juan Guaidó, an opposition leader, as the interim president of Venezuela until the country could have free and fair elections. Dozens of nations around the world followed suit. The excitement fizzled out when it became clear that Maduro had no intention of relinquishing power, and Trump wasn't willing or able to make him. Since that time, the Venezuelan opposition has gotten stronger. Machado is much more popular than Guaidó, who emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Guaidó won Washington's backing because he happened to fill a certain role—he was the majority leader of the legislature—at a moment when that put him in line for the presidency. But Machado has a face that every Venezuelan recognizes because she has dedicated more than 20 years to fighting the country's dictatorship. She can rally crowds in the most remote parts of Venezuela. Even so, the second Trump administration appears to be more interested in deporting Venezuelans from America than in supporting a politician who could make Venezuela more livable. Gone are the days when Trump vowed to apply 'maximum pressure' on Maduro. I had a chance to ask Machado, just a couple weeks after Inauguration Day this year, what she expected from the new Trump administration. She said that she thought Trump would understand helping the Venezuelan opposition as a matter of 'national security and hemispheric security,' given the regional threats posed by the Venezuelan government. Maduro, after all, was the reason for the migrant outflows; he has also tolerated the rise of Tren de Aragua, the criminal gang Trump so frequently references. She didn't mention anything about economic interests. Machado had worked out a theory for how regime change could come about in Venezuela. If other countries exerted sufficient pressure on Maduro's government, she suggested, the 'cost of preserving the status quo' would go up. Top officials would eventually figure that their interests were better served by negotiating an exit deal with the opposition. That's why she supported American sanctions on Venezuela, regardless of what American think tanks and academics had to say about the pain they inflicted on Venezuelans. 'Sanctions to those who violate human rights harm the Venezuelan people?' Machado scoffed. 'What really harms the people is a criminal government that intentionally brought down our productive apparatus.' Machado does have one ally in the Trump administration: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently praised her as 'the personification of resilience, tenacity, and patriotism.' In November 2022, President Joe Biden issued a license to allow the oil company Chevron to evade sanctions in order to extract oil in Venezuela. Rubio has called this a ' pro-Maduro ' gift and pushed to let it expire. Unfortunately, for Machado at least, Rubio is not the only person in Washington trying to set policy on Venezuela. Trump's presidential envoy, Richard Grenell, appears to think that America stands to benefit from having a transactional relationship with Maduro. Shortly after the inauguration, Grenell traveled to Caracas to urge Maduro to accept deportation flights, and Maduro agreed to free six Americans detained in Venezuela. Grenell and Maduro shook hands and smiled for the camera—not exactly the ' maximum pressure ' Trump once promised to put on Maduro. Late last month, as the Chevron license's expiration date approached, Rubio and Grenell duked it out online. Grenell met with Maduro officials in the Caribbean, then went on a podcast to announce that the license would be extended–only for Rubio to contradict him the next day on X, where the secretary of state announced that the license would expire as scheduled. Eventually, the Trump administration settled on a compromise, extending the license but making it more restrictive. Observers have since talked about Rubio and Grenell as leaders of two competing factions within the Trump administration: the principled Venezuela hawks versus the pragmatists willing to make deals with Maduro. Now Machado appears to be trying to reconcile both sides. And she has a message for the pragmatists: Working with us will bring more financial benefits than dealing with Maduro. The stance has required an awkward bit of pragmatism from Machado herself. Her team has publicly urged the Trump administration not to revoke the protected status the Biden administration extended to Venezuelan immigrants. But Machado has also spoken in favor of deporting Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, without questioning the Trump administration's allegations that the Venezuelans it deported were, in fact, gang members. When I asked a question about this at the press conference, a moderator demurred, saying that such 'political questions' would be answered at the end and asking if there were any more questions regarding the economic plan proposed. In a profile for The Spectator last July, the writer Paola Romero described Machado as mixing 'the crowd-pulling allure of Evita Peron with the politics of Margaret Thatcher.' Those are indeed the two Machados: one who tours her country to bring consoling messages of hope to Venezuela's poorest, and another who wears a pantsuit and jewels and praises the merits of free markets and privatization. Last year, Machado's presidential campaign was mostly Evita. The press conference was all Thatcher. In her closing remarks, Machado said that the interests of 'the people of Venezuela, democratic governments in the Western Hemisphere, and certainly investors' were all aligned. 'This is a win-win situation.'

Forbes

4 days ago

• Forbes

Exclusive: Jamaica's Ambassador Antony Anderson On Strengthening U.S. Ties, Economic Growth, And The Future Of The Island

His Excellency Major General (Ret'd) Antony Anderson currently serves as Jamaica's fourteenth ... More Ambassador to the United States of America and as the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States (OAS). He officially assumed duties on 28th May 2025, at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. In the third-floor ceremonial office of the Jamaican Embassy, just steps from Washington, D.C.'s iconic Dupont Circle, Antony Anderson is settling into his new role as Jamaica's ambassador to the United States. This new appointment, which Anderson has had for nearly three weeks, represents a marked departure from his former role as the Commissioner of Police of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In this new chapter, he faces a complex geopolitical landscape, one shaped by a Trump administration focused on challenging foreign trade norms and implementing a zero-tolerance immigration policy that's spurred the mass deportation of more than 2,500 Jamaican nationals. Anderson, a warm yet reserved figure sporting a pale blue suit with a red tie and the Jamaican flag proudly pinned to his lapel, said leadership and focus are essential, now more than ever. 'Jamaicans are not constrained by how they see themselves in the world,' said Anderson, 61. 'We come from a small island in the Caribbean, but we don't think that way. We have no problem taking first, second, and third at the Olympics in a race.' An official photo taken of the Richard Fowler's interview with Amb. Anderson in the Embassy of ... More Jamaica's ceremonial office. In his first major interview with an American publication since his appointment, Anderson shared his vision for Jamaica's relationship with the United States. He also discussed the recently revised U.S. travel advisory for Jamaica, his plans to strengthen Jamaica's diplomatic footprint in Washington, and how he intends to address the challenges posed by the current political climate, striking a balance between his ambassadorial role and the growing influence of the Jamaican-American diaspora. 'We are looking out for new opportunities, and there's no better time for opportunity than change,' said Anderson. 'My work will focus on helping Jamaica navigate these changes to create better and larger opportunities that align with our policy of growth.' To understand Anderson's reserved nature, one must consider his decorated military and law enforcement background. While his warmth is evident, his careful approach to understanding issues before giving thoughtful, calculated responses reflect his robust military training. Anderson holds a master's degree in Defense Administration from what was formerly known as the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, and a bachelor's degree in Engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. Coupled with decades of experience in law enforcement, including work with various international agencies and joint operations with local and state law enforcement in the U.S., Anderson begins his tenure at a critical time for Jamaica. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness and local ... More delegations, in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Howard / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NATHAN HOWARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Case in point: Upon his return from Jamaica, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio adjusted the U.S. State Department's travel advisory for the island, downgrading its status from Level 3: Reconsider Travel to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. After the Biden administration unexpectedly upgraded the island nation's status to Level 3, the recent adjustment under the Trump administration came as a relief for Jamaicans. As the second most visited destination in the Caribbean, Jamaica's growth continues despite concerns about violent crime and inadequate healthcare facilities. In 2024, Jamaica welcomed approximately 4.3 million visitors, with the majority coming from the United States. However, Anderson, whose previous role as head of the police put him in direct oversight of public safety, quickly highlighted Jamaica's falling crime rates, which he said reaffirms the island's safety for American tourists. 'When you look at real crime numbers and the incidences of crimes against tourists, American tourists are absolutely safer in Jamaica than any major U.S. city that they might choose to visit,' Anderson said. 'But you have perception versus reality.' The island has seen a 45% reduction in murders and a 20% drop in major crimes year-to-date. 'We've done a lot of things to improve some of the concerns that caused the level of the advisory,' Anderson said. 'Our security situation has improved dramatically. We've addressed some of those concerns in our health sector. So we've created the conditions that if the administration wanted to revise the travel advisory positively, then there's enough reason to do so.' With the new travel advisory in hand, Anderson said he wants to build on a relationship that is evolving under the new Trump administration. A shared focus for Anderson and his American counterparts is tackling crime and drug trafficking. Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret'd) Antony Anderson, ... More presents copies of his letters of credence to Chief of Protocol of the United States Department of State, Ambassador Monica Elizabeth Crowley on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. While Jamaica doesn't manufacture guns or many of the drugs transported through the island, its gun violence crisis stems from the influx of illegal firearms from the U.S. These weapons often find their way into the hands of individuals tied to the drug trade or criminal organizations, which Anderson said makes cooperation between the United States and Jamaica necessary. 'We have nearly every federal law enforcement agency represented at the embassy, and not just sitting there but working hand in hand with our law enforcement,' Anderson said. 'That's been invaluable in helping us achieve the results we've seen.' Anderson said the Jamaican diaspora has played a significant role in the American story. In 2023, when Jamaica accounted for the largest share of Caribbean immigrants in the U.S., approximately 1.3 million people of Jamaican descent called this country home. 'Jamaicans, wherever they go, don't necessarily form a community by themselves,' Anderson said. 'They integrate into the community, especially if their values align. And when they become part of a community, they add value. Within one or two generations, those kids are doing amazing things for the country.' Anderson pointed to figures like U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, underscoring how the Jamaican mindset of limitless potential has shaped the success of its diaspora. 'Jamaicans have a mindset that says we can be as good as anyone in the world,' Anderson said. 'When that's instilled in our children, they do rise and they do great things because they know there are no limits to their vision and imagination.' TOPSHOT - US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks on the ... More fourth and last day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 22, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party's nomination for president today at the DNC which ran from August 19-22 in Chicago. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Harris echoed this sentiment in her DNC Convention acceptance speech, recalling the advice of her Jamaican father, Stanford Professor Emeritus Donald J. Harris: 'At the park, my mother would tell us to stay close,' Harris said. 'But my father would just smile and say, 'Run, Kamala. Run. Don't be afraid. Don't let anything stop you.'' The relationship between the U.S. and Jamaica isn't without its challenges. For years, Jamaica has been a recruitment hotspot for of recruiting highly skilled healthcare and education professionals. This has led to the country's third-place ranking on the Human Flight and Brain Drain Index. In 2023, nearly 26,000 Jamaicans, including many teachers and healthcare professionals, relocated to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Anderson is no stranger to this aspect of immigration, often overlooked or underreported in U.S. immigration stories. 'We ultimately believe that you are free to go if you please, but we as a nation must work to create an environment for you to stay.' KINGSTON, JAMAICA - MARCH 06: Nurses watch during a visit by Prince Harry at Bustamente Children's ... More Hospital on March 6, 2012 in Kingston, Jamaica. Prince Harry is in Jamaica as part of a Diamond Jubilee Tour, representing Queen Elizabeth II, taking in Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Brazil. (Photo by) Harris and millions of other Jamaican diasporans remain at the forefront of Anderson's mind as he focuses on expanding his relationship with this influential bloc of American citizens. 'One thing Jamaica is after is growth, and engaging with our diaspora is essential to our growth strategy,' he said. 'We have to create the conditions that our diaspora wants to invest in Jamaica.' Emphasizing the importance of practical, not emotional, investments, Anderson hopes his tenure will help shift the focus of the diaspora's involvement from purely philanthropic efforts to profitable ventures. 'My role is to show this diaspora, who are looking for investments all over the world, that this is what Jamaica is doing,' Anderson explained. 'Here are the opportunities to make money, increase profit, and do it safely in Jamaica—just from a financial perspective.' Over the past few years, Jamaica has experienced steady GDP growth and a significant reduction in its debt-to-GDP ratio, both signs of fiscal discipline and stable monetary policy. While more strategic initiatives are needed to boost growth and resilience against external shocks, Anderson believes the country is moving in the right direction, particularly through the expansion of tourism and the exploration of medical tourism, given the high number of skilled healthcare professionals the island produces annually. Although Jamaica has not yet broken ground on its first medical tourism facility, Anderson, along with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, is exploring ways to attract investors interested in making Jamaica a hotspot for the medical tourism industry. Anderson said that endeavor involves leveraging Jamaica's proximity to the U.S., highly trained English-speaking healthcare professionals, and ample five-star hotel accommodations. 'We're positioned to take advantage of this as a business venture and deliver those services,' Anderson said. 'The government's role is to create the infrastructure and framework for investment, but ultimately, investment and growth are driven by the private sector.' Jamaica is also courting oil investors. In early 2025, offshore oil potential was identified in the Walton-Morant Basin, located south of the island. Estimates suggest more than 2.4 billion untapped barrels, which Jamaican officials are working to turn into a major economic driver. A significant part of Jamaica's identity is its cultural influence, especially through dancehall and reggae music, which continue to dominate global charts. With artists like Vybz Kartel and Spice selling out arenas, Anderson believes that time's of the essence in making the Jamaica brand global. 'Now is the moment,' Anderson said. 'to take our Jamaica brand, our cool brand, keep its Caribbean flavor, but make it larger and part of a world standard.' Emphasizing music, food, and Jamaica's dominance in athletics, Anderson also highlighted efforts to create more talent incubators and streamline the investment process. 'There's a push to make everything easier—to make investment easier—and it's called SPEED—the Streamlining Processes for Efficiency and Economic Development.' Led by former Jamaican Ambassador to the U.S. Audrey Marks, who's now innovation minister and a member of the Jamaican Senate and Minister for Innovation, the SPEED initiative aims to foster an environment conducive to investment and talent growth. As Jamaica's global influence continues to expand, Anderson stands ready to leave his mark on what comes next for the island nation.