All Content: crime & violence

Ten years after the collapse of Colombia's FARC peace process

A conversation with Marc Chernick and Virginia Bouvier
22 Feb 2012
Publication
Talks between Colombia's government and the FARC guerrillas fell apart ten years ago, on February 20, 2002. Adam talks with Marc Chernick of Georgetown University and Virginia Bouvier of the U.S. Institute of Peace about the failure of the last peace process and prospects for peace today.

Police Strikes in Brazil Evidence of Deeper Structural Problems

10 Feb 2012
Analysis & Commentary
At the beginning of February, around 10,000 members of the military police in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia went on strike after years of failed negotiations for pay increases and better benefits. The strikes will likely spread to other areas of Brazil.

Organizations in the U.S. Express Support for the Victims of Violence in Mexico

30 Jan 2012
Video
WOLA and other organizations in the U.S. created a video expressing their support of the victims of violence in Mexico. The video was made as part of the campaign "In Someone Else's Shoes," which launched on Monday, January 30 in Mexico City.

“In Someone Else’s Shoes:” An artistic event in support of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity

27 Jan 2012
Video
More than 100 artists, along with the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity, come together to hold an event where music, video, and social change converged to give voice to the victims of violence in Mexico, launching a campaign called "In Someone Else's Shoes." Watch the campaign ads here.

WOLA: Promoting Human Rights, Democracy, and Social Justice

22 Dec 2011
Video
As the year winds to a close, we hope you will enjoy this video about how WOLA works with partners in the region to advance human rights in Latin America. If you have not done so, we hope you will consider making a donation to WOLA to support our continued efforts. Your support makes a difference.

On One-Year Anniversary of Tragic Murder of Mexican Activist, U.S. Congress Urges Need to Protect Human Rights Defenders

16 Dec 2011
Publication
The increasing number of attacks and murders of human rights defenders in Mexico in this past year underscores the continued failure of the Mexican government to protect defenders and the urgent need for more action to ensure that they can carry out their work safely.

The Anniversary of the Jesuit Martyrs & Justice in El Salvador Today

16 Nov 2011
Analysis & Commentary
The legacy of the Jesuits is alive today and evident in two important issues now being debated in El Salvador. The first has to do with amnesty and impunity—whether those with power and influence can commit human rights abuses without fear of prosecution. The second has to do with the strength and role of the military.

Elections in Guatemala and Nicaragua

A conversation with Adriana Beltran and Maureen Meyer
11 Nov 2011
Publication
On Sunday, Guatemalans elected retired Gen. Otto Pérez Molina to be their next president, while Nicaraguans re-elected Daniel Ortega. Adam talks about the result, and what might come next, with WOLA Senior Associates Adriana Beltrán and Maureen Meyer.

New Report on Mistakes of Plan Colombia and Lessons for Latin America

A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for Mexico and Beyond
10 Nov 2011
News
Today the Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF), the Center for International Policy (CIP), and WOLA release A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for Mexico and Beyond, a new report that dissects the Colombian experience of the past ten years

Colombia Human Rights Bulletin

October 2011
31 Oct 2011
Publication
WOLA would like to share with you the following links to documents written by WOLA and organizations we partner with in Colombia on human rights, labor rights, and Afro-Colombian and indigenous issues.

Tell President Obama to Help Stop Gun Smugglers

Join with thousands of others petitioning him from both sides of the border
21 Oct 2011
Publication
Now you can be a part of the solution for a more peaceful Mexico. A bi-national campaign is calling on the U.S. government to stem the flow of illegal weapons going across the border.

Join Diego Luna - Stop Gun Smuggling to Mexico

19 Oct 2011
Video
According to a recent U.S. Congressional report, approximately 70% of the weapons seized in Mexico in 2009 and 2010 submitted for tracing came from the United States. Listen to Diego Luna's message about gun violence in Mexico, and then join the movement for peace in Mexico by signing a petition to U.S. President Obama.

Take Action to Protect Human Rights Defenders in Colombia

Human rights abuses continue to undermine social justice efforts under the Santos administration
13 Sep 2011
Publication
We urge you to please contact the US and Colombian authorities in order to protect human rights defenders, free those unjustly detained, and seek investigations that lead to justice for those murdered and recipients of death threats

Alternatives to Violence: Hope in Medellín

A Speech by Rep. James McGovern
13 Sep 2011
Publication
The following speech by Representative McGovern provides insight into the complexities of violence and peacebuilding in Medellín.

Tackling Violence in Mexico

A translation of an article by Eduardo Guerrero in Nexos
10 Sep 2011
Publication
Guerrero’s article deserves as wide an audience as possible. The author makes a compelling case for shifting to a strategy of “deterrence” to reduce the horrific violence that has been spreading in Mexico.

Diego Luna, Javier Sicilia, Sergio Aguayo of Alianza Civica, and WOLA promote international campaign against arms trafficking

"Stop Gun Smuggling: 3 Things President Obama CAN Do" asks the Obama administration to adopt three measures that would counter illegal arms smuggling from the United States to Mexico.
11 Aug 2011
News
This morning, Javier Sicilia, Diego Luna, Alianza Civica, and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) hosted a press conference in the Museum of Memory and Tolerance to promote the international campaign Stop Gun Smuggling: 3 Things President Obama CAN Do.

Petition President Obama to Stop Illegal Arms Trafficking to Mexico

Three Actions that Do Not Require the Approval of Congress
11 Aug 2011
Publication
Mexico has the obligation to do a better job to avoid these weapons entering the country, however the United States also has to do its part to better control who has access to these weapons, not only for solidarity with Mexico, but for the families in the United States that have links to Mexico.

El Caminito

15 Jul 2011
Video
This video serves as a visual companion to the investigative report done by the online newspaper El Faro about the Cartel de Texis in El Salvador.

Cauca’s Nasa Indigenous People Caught in the Crossfire

FARC Abuses Civilian Population’s Rights
15 Jul 2011
Analysis & Commentary
A bus filled with explosives was detonated on the morning of July 9 at 10:30 a.m. in front of a police station in Toribío, Cauca. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia’s oldest and largest guerrilla group, were responsible for the attack.

WOLA/IDB Mapping Study of International Cooperation for Citizen Security in Central America

8 Jul 2011
Publication
Looking at the region from 2009 to June 2011, the study identifies 423 projects being implemented and 30 additional projects still in the design phase.