November 18, 2009
The following document is the full text of Representative Jim McGovern's speech at the 20th anniversary commemoration of the six Jesuits and two women murdered in El Salvador in 1989. At this historic event, Rep. McGovern received an honorary degree from the University of Central America for his consistent commitment to human rights and democracy over the last twenty ...
November 17, 2009
The following is the full speech of Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes delivered on November 16, 2009 in honor of 20th Anniversary of the six Jesuits murdered in 1989 for their work in the pursuit of peace during the country's civil war.
November 12, 2009
According to a recent report released by international experts from the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the Transnational Institute in The Netherlands and the Colectivo para una Política Integral Hacia las Drogas in Mexico, the new Mexican law that decriminalizes the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use will substantially increase chances that drug users are mistaken ...
October 22, 2009
The information included in this congressional education packet documents how existing restrictions on travel and trade harm the national interests of the United States, and why reforming this policy is consistent with our values, our economic interests and efforts to improve the U.S. image abroad.
October 21, 2009
WOLA is pleased to see that H.Res. 761, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern and 33 co-sponsors, was approved today in the U.S. House of Representatives. This resolution remembers and commemorates the lives and work of the six Jesuit priests and two women who were murdered in El Salvador nearly twenty years ago. On Nov. 16, 1989, armed men ...
October 20, 2009
WOLA sent a memo to Foreign Policy Aides today on the the situation in Honduras and the upcoming elections.
October 16, 2009
U.S. human rights organizations and activists wish to celebrate Peace Brigades International's Colombia Project on its 15 year anniversary. Without the presence and hard work of PBI Colombia's hundreds of volunteers over the past 15 years, much of the important work on human rights in Colombia would not have been possible.
October 16, 2009
WOLA's Coletta Youngers and John Walsh wrote an article published in America's Quarterly today, Drug Decriminalization: A Trend Takes Shape. They explain how harsh anti-drug laws have failed to stem apparently rising drug use, and incarceration rates are climbing-up 40 percent on average in Mexico and South America over the last decade-with more drug users and low-level dealers behind bars. ...
October 9, 2009
WOLA and other human rights organizations recently sent this letter (in Spanish only) to Guatemala's Attorney General calling upon him to investigate death threats against leading advocates for transitional justice and women's rights in Guatemala.
September 25, 2009
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) granted its 2009 Human Rights Award to the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center from Guerrero, Mexico, an award given each year to organizations or individuals who significantly contribute to the promotion of human rights in Latin America.
September 17, 2009
WOLA, TransAfrica Forum and AFRODES USA sumbitted comments on behalf of the Network for Advocacy in Solidarity with Grassroots Afro-Colombian Communities (NASGACC) and partner organizations in Colombia concerning the Free Trade Agreemeent with Colombia to the Office of the United States Representative on September 15, 2009.
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September 16, 2009
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September 15, 2009
WOLA submitted written comments to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in response to a formal request to the public for opinions on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, also known as the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In this letter, WOLA will re-iterate concerns about the U.S.-Colombia FTA.
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September 9, 2009
Read USOC, WOLA and LAWGEF's memo on a scandal far worse than watergate which is unfolding featuring Colombia's presidential intelligence agency, the Administrative Security Department (DAS). Exposed by the Colombian news weekly Semana and the subject of an Attorney General's office investigation, the DAS is revealed to have been illegally spying on many of the varied forces of Colombian democracy: ...
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August 27, 2009
Mexican Human Rights groups condemn statements made last week by officials of the US Embassy in Mexico alleging that the US government has released Merida Initiative funding conditioned on Mexico’s fulfillment of several of its human rights obligations. These human rights obligations remain unfulfilled as Mexican security forces commit widespread, unpunished violations against the civilian population.
August 27, 2009
As the title indicates, this report identifies elements to successful anti-gang strategies and programs by highlighting the work of six gang prevention and intervention programs in the United States and the Central American region. WOLA concludes that the most effective responses to gang violence requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention programs that help young people in difficult situations ...
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