Political Scientist passionate about applied democratic governance; work in 50+ countries supporting international development; opinions & views are my own.

Joined January 2015
La noticia más esperanzadora para el pueblo de #Venezuela desde los resultados electorales de julio de 2024 y el 1/3/2026. El regreso de @MariaCorinaYA marca un nuevo comienzo para iniciar la transición desde un aparato y sistema represivo y corrupto hacia un nuevo modelo.
Noche de reencuentro en nuestra Caracas. Por el reencuentro de cada familia, por la Libertad de cada preso político, por la Libertad de Venezuela.
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The most hopeful news for the people of #Venezuela since the July 2024 election results and 1/3/2026. Her return marks a new beginning to start the transition away from a repressive and corrupt apparatus. Scheduling elections and #accountability should be on top of the agenda.
Finalmente, Caracas, estoy aquí!! 🇻🇪
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The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is launching "Richard Gere In Conversation: Tibet and the Heart of Compassion," a new video series offering an intimate portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama through rare, deeply personal conversations with Tibetan spiritual leaders, public servants, and close associates who have known him, served him and shared in the extraordinary journey of modern #Tibet. WATCH the first episode with Dr. Gyal Lo, Tibet Specialist at Tibet Action Institute, NEXT FRIDAY, OCT. 16 @ 11am EST: youtu.be/_DYsff0lroc?si=JjVs… The launch is specially timed to commemorate the 19th anniversary of His Holiness receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’s highest civilian honor, on Oct. 17, 2007. Hosted by longtime Tibet advocate and ICT Chairman, "Richard Gere In Conversation" is presented by ICT, in collaboration with the Gere Foundation, White Crane Films and Odyssey Productions. The series features conversations with Tibetan spiritual leaders, scholars, public servants, and longtime associates of His Holiness, including Samdhong Rinpoche, Ama Jetsun Pema, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Dr. Gyal Lo, Thupten Jinpa, and Chhime Rigzin Chhoekyapa, and more. #DalaiLama #RichardGereInConversation
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
An update from me...
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#ApadrinaAUnPresoPoliticoDelMundo Pudiemos entregar la medalla de @caslainstitute "voces en la oscuridad" a nuestro querido padrino Pedro Urruchurtu @Urruchurtu quien explica que significa para el la campaña!
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Feliz cumpleaños, @MariaCorinaYA. Quiero darte especialmente las gracias, porque tu ejemplo, tu coraje y tu determinación son un motor. No exiges nada sin que seas tú la primera en asumirlo y no hay disciplina que no venga acompañada de tu ejemplo de cómo serlo. No he conocido a nadie con la visión para reunir talento, con el foco para cumplir objetivos y con la perseverancia para no rendirse jamás, como tú. Ya son casi 14 años desde que empecé a trabajar junto a ti, y quiero ser enfático en esto: ha sido JUNTO a ti y no PARA ti, y esa es la gran diferencia, porque ésta es una causa que nos reúne a todos en el mismo objetivo. Tu liderazgo ha sido un motor. Los últimos meses se cuentan en muchos kilómetros por el mundo, pero realmente nos estamos preparando para el viaje más importante de todos: el de la Venezuela por la que no hemos parado de luchar ni un segundo: libre y democrática, todos allá, reconstruyéndola; todos allá, regresando. Han sido muchos aviones, pensando en el único avión que realmente queremos embarcar. La constancia rinde frutos y vaya que tú eres un ejemplo. En tu cumpleaños el año pasado ni se nos pasaba por la mente lo del Nobel, y apenas tres días después, la noticia nos sorprendió. La noche anterior hablábamos en llamada, a propósito de mi cumpleaños, y la simple idea del Nobel no estaba ni en las ocurrencias del más creativo. Ha sido un año desafiante en el que no tengo duda de que Venezuela ha sido y sigue siendo el foco. Seremos libres. Gracias, María Corina. Que Dios te bendiga.
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Gracias @PVacaV por tu compromiso a la libertad de expresion.
Hoy concluyo mi mandato como Relator Especial para la Libertad de Expresión de la @CIDH Agradezco al equipo @RELE_CIDH por su compromiso. La libertad de expresión es un campo de disputa y la democracia escogió este derecho cómo la forma para transcender a los desacuerdos …👇🏾
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
Many countries have some form of meat pie as their national dish, and they’re among my favorite foods. I grew up on empanadas in Paraguay 🇵🇾, Chile 🇨🇱, and Venezuela 🇻🇪 (each of which has its own variants). Lately, I’ve been introduced to Bolivian 🇧🇴 salteñas, which (from my point of view at least) are empanada variants with a more soupy interior that makes them fun but challenging to eat. A Bolivian friend, Eduardo, brought me these tasty salteñas for lunch today and I managed to wolf them down at the office without staining my shirt or tie. Let me know if you have any recommendations from other countries! 🥟
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
Today, 21-year-old Anna Bensi and her mother, Caridad Silvente, were unjustly sentenced to two years of restricted liberty for peacefully expressing their views on social media. Freedom House is deeply concerned by the reported orchestration of a heavy police presence around these proceedings and by reports that journalists, activists, religious leaders, and other supporters were deliberately prevented from accompanying or observing the case. The reported detention of a pastor and his wife as they attempted to provide pastoral support is particularly troubling. No one should be punished for exercising their fundamental freedoms. We stand with Anna and Caridad. #Cuba
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA | Imágenes de la salida de Ana Sofía y su madre del tribunal Ana Sofía Benítez Silvente y su madre salieron del Tribunal de Cojímar tras conocer el fallo que las declaró culpables y las condenó a dos años de limitación de libertad para cada una. A su salida, personas reunidas en el lugar corearon repetidamente: “¡Cuba para Cristo!” 🎥 Créditos: Alfredito Fominaya
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
I may be biased, but I think this was the best Global Religious Freedom Gathering to date! Wonderful to have Pastor Ezra Jin share about the challenge of religious persecution in China, followed by thoughtful panels on the different ways we can respond with prayer and advocacy.
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
Freedom House President @GerardoBerthin joined the 2026 Global Religious Freedom Gathering at @DBUPatriots for a conversation on religious nationalism and its impact on democratic governance. Gerardo highlighted the importance of the rule of law and independent institutions in protecting religious freedom and other fundamental rights. Thank you to Dallas Baptist University for bringing together advocates and experts to explore how stronger partnerships can help advance religious freedom and human rights around the world. #ReligiousFreedom
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
In Beijing’s approach to Taiwan, Xi Jinping has made a paradigm shift. To all his predecessors, including Mao Zedong, Taiwan was unfinished business from the Chinese Civil War, but none saw a need to specify a timeline for its incorporation into China. In contrast, Xi Jinping has made Taiwan central to his China Dream of National Rejuvenation — making 2050 the deadline for taking the island. Beijing’s preferred outcome is to demonstrate overwhelming military superiority that pressures Taipei to submit to ‘reunification’ and thus remove the American raison d’être for military intervention. Should this tactic fail, China will use force. Read Steve Tsang's (@SOAS_CI) analysis on Xi Jinping's worldview for the autumn issue of @TheWorldToday, the international affairs magazine of Chatham House. Article | bit.ly/4r83SAa |
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
When government claims the power to rewrite scripture, jail believers or separate children from their faith, we must declare: a faith belongs to the faithful souls, not the government. A China without religious freedom is a China we cannot do business with.deseret.com/opinion/2026/09/…
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
Congratulations to Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh for receiving the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh wins the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize for her advocacy work. Still in Iran after her release on bail, she said via video message that "one day, the sun of freedom will shine upon our country as well." u.afp.com/S9WS
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Today, President George W. Bush welcomed former political prisoner Pastor Ezra Jin to the Bush Institute. Pastor Jin was the founding pastor of the Zion Church in Beijing, which grew into one of China’s largest networks of unregistered Christian churches. In October 2025, Pastor Jin and nearly 30 of his fellow Christian leaders were imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for broadcasting sermons online after officials shut down the church’s physical location in 2018. He was held for nearly nine months before his release in July. Pastor Jin and President Bush discussed Pastor Jin’s family, his imprisonment, and the house church movement in China. President Bush spoke about his concern for prisoners of conscience in China, including some he painted in his new book, The Call of Freedom: Pastor Wang Yi, Gulshan Abbas, Joshua Wong, and Jimmy Lai.
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Not only were the Washington Commanders without quarterback Jayden Daniels as he recovers from his dislocated left elbow, but they were down six other starters. None of that stopped the Commanders from upsetting the Seahawks, 33-31. wapo.st/4htQAtc
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
Cookie and I enjoyed watching a 33-31 thriller for our Commanders - the first win of the season against the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks! It was a total team effort on both offense and defense led by our QB Marcus Mariota who finished with 3 touchdowns and managed the clock well. I’ve enjoyed watching how much our defense has improved from last year to this year these last few games. It was great to see Commanders fan and NBA Champion Josh Hart at today’s game! I drafted Josh Hart when I was President of Basketball Operations at the Lakers and I always enjoy catching up with him.
HOME SWEET HOME WIN
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Gerardo Berthin retweeted
#Morocco votes today, one year after #GenZ 212 drove a wave of youth-led demonstrations. While the movement is no longer calling for protests, grievances over jobs, healthcare, education, corruption & public spending remain. More: bit.ly/4waqgtZ
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