IRTF Mission and Vision

The InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF)  brings together people from various faith and secular communities to act in solidarity with oppressed peoples in southern Mexico, Central America, and Colombia through consciousness-raising and direct consumer and political advocacy to build long-term structural change.

 IRTF was formed as a nonviolent response to the horrific violence of December 2, 1980 when two members of the Cleveland Mission Team in El Salvador were murdered: Jean Donovan and Sister Dorothy Kazel. People of faith and conscience formed IRTF so that we here in Ohio would live out their legacy—standing in solidarity with oppressed peoples as they struggle for peace, dignity and justice.

IRTF’s solidarity work includes:

-protesting urgent human rights abuse cases

-working to end US military training in civilian-targeted warfare

-advocating for an end to the armed violence in Colombia and an inclusive and comprehensive peace and reconciliation process

-supporting people’s pro-democracy movements

-joining with indigenous & Afro-descendant communities to protect their lands and cultures

-protesting institutionalized racism and state-sponsored violence that targets communities of color

-standing with LGBTQ persons to gain broader inclusion into their societies

-promoting fair trade and sweatshop-free buying to support living wages

-generating youth leadership for social justice

IRTF mission statement:

IRTF calls together people in the U.S. to walk in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Central America and Colombia to achieve peace, justice, human rights, and systemic transformation through nonviolence.

IRTF program areas:

Afro-descendant & Indigenous Solidarity

Promoting dignity and equality for Afro-descendant and native peoples, resisting state-sponsored violence and institutionalized racism

Anti-Militarism & Nonviolence

Resisting militarism and upholding self-determination, freedom, democracy, and social and economic justice.

Environmental Human Rights

Resisting assaults on land, sovereignty, natural resources, and local cultures

Exploited Labor Solidarity

Engaging consumers to reform trade policies and empower workers for improved wages and working conditions

Fair Trade

Promoting living wages, self-determination, gender equality, and transparency through democratic processes

Immigrant Rights

Organizing for humane and welcoming immigration policies that promote family re-unification and recognize the right to seek political asylum

LGBTQ Solidarity

Supporting LGBTQ+ people and their families to gain broader societal inclusion and stop hate crimes

Youth Empowerment

Accompanying, empowering, and supporting youth to become a new generation of leaders for peace and justice

Rapid Response Network

Protecting people living under threat, demanding investigations of human rights crimes, and bringing human rights criminals to justice.