The Organization of American States should press the Honduran de facto government to halt the excessive use of force against protesters and to guarantee other fundamental rights.

Honduras's de facto government should refrain from using excessive force against supporters of the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya. The authorities should also refrain from abusing emergency powers to undermine the basic rights of protesters, journalists, and others in Honduras.

The comments address the concerns of Human Rights Watch in connection with the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the protection of fundamental rights of workers in Colombia. The comments respond to, but may also go beyond, questions 2 and 3 in the Office of the US Trade Representative’s Request for Comments on the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2009.

The US State Department report on Mexico's compliance with human rights requirements included in the Merida Initiative aid package does not show that Mexico meets standards that would justify the release of conditional funding.

By law, 15% of the Merida funds are withheld until the State Department reports that Mexico has met all four human rights conditions included in the aid package. Since the State Department report does not show that Mexico is meeting the condition that requires that "civilian authorities are investigating and prosecuting army abuses, in accordance with Mexican and international law," it should not be considered a sufficient justification for the release of the withheld Merida funds.

Labor Day? Let's be real. The last thing on our minds this weekend is labor rights. Whether we're fortunate enough to have a job or worrying about how to get one in today's economy, we'll focus more on this summer's last hurrah than on the Tuesday- morning-after travails.

The Colombian government should ensure a prompt, independent, and thorough investigation of the killings of 12 members of the Awá indigenous community, and take immediate measures to protect the community.

The finding by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of widespread abuses in Honduras should compel the international community to take firm action, such as targeted sanctions, to resolve the country's ongoing crisis.