Institute of Politics

IOP Pritzker Fellow Génesis Dávila on "The Nation That Animates What I Do: Venezuela" THIS SEMINAR IS OPEN TO CURRENT UCHICAGO STUDENTS ONLY Thursday, October 10 12:30-1:45pm Following the July presidential elections in my country, the Maduro regime refused to recognize the election results, leading to an alarming escalation of violence and thousands of politically motivated, arbitrary detentions and worse. I spent late summer in Washington, D.C., monitoring and documenting the situation and pressing for arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court while my team in Caracas provided essential legal support to the victims of this repression. This is the most urgent and personal work of my career fighting political prosecution, the terms of which I will define for you here. The seminar will culminate in an exhibition of Realidad Helicoide, a powerful virtual experience created by 30 Venezuelan political prisoners and torture survivors. This immersive exhibition showcases the harrowing reality of El Helicoide, the largest torture center in the Americas. Realidad Helicoide has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the European Parliament, the Oslo Freedom Forum, and the Geneva Summit, highlighting the global significance of this crucial human rights issue. Special Guest (via Zoom): Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Pritzker Fellows seminars are off the record and open to current UChicago students only. Seating in the IOP Living Room is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Sarah Palmisciano (spalmisciano@uchicago.edu).