All Content: rural development

U.S. Congress Supports Peace in Colombia

18 Apr 2013
Analysis & Commentary
In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, 62 members of Congress call for U.S. policy to support peace with justice as the country continues negotiations to end its internal conflict.

Brazil’s Lessons in Rural Development

Family Agriculture, Access to Water, and Civic Engagement
21 Feb 2013
Publication
WOLA is pleased to announce the publication of the new report, “Brazil’s Lessons in Rural Development: Family Agriculture, Access to Water, and Civic Engagement,” which highlights two Brazilian policies that support small farmers.

Colombia labor and land update

A conversation with Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli of WOLA's Andes Program
28 Aug 2012
Publication
Adam talks to Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, WOLA's senior associate for the Andes, about her recent visit to the Urabá and Atrato regions of Colombia. Topics covered include labor rights, land-rights leaders under threat, and prospects for peace talks.

Colombian Trade Unionists, WOLA, and AFL-CIO Criticize Labor Action Plan Implementation

Release Report on Human and Labor Rights in Colombia
24 Jul 2012
News
Today Colombian trade unionists, representatives from WOLA, the Escuela Nacional Sindical, and the AFL-CIO noted during a panel discussion that the Labor Action Plan (LAP) has failed to stop serious labor and human rights violations in Colombia almost two months after the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement became effective.

Colombia Human Rights Bulletin

July 2012
16 Jul 2012
Publication
WOLA would like to share these documents recently published by WOLA or organizations we work with in Colombia on labor rights and human rights issues.

Launch of "Beyond the Border Buildup"

WOLA staff discuss new report about threats, security policy, and migration at the U.S.-Mexico border
23 Apr 2012
Publication
Audio from the launch of WOLA's new report on security and migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Featuring Adam Isacson and Maureen Meyer from WOLA and Jennifer Podkul of the Women's Refugee Commission.

Obama Poised To Give Presidential Seal of Approval To Gross Labor Rights Violations in Colombia

Analysis by Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli and Anthony Dest of WOLA and Dan Kovalik of the USW
11 Apr 2012
Analysis & Commentary
Despite continued anti-union violence, the high rate of impunity, serious impediments to union organizing, and the dire conditions faced by workers, President Obama is now poised to announce at the Summit of the Americas that Colombia has complied with the Labor Action Plan

Progress on Labor and Human Rights Must Come before Colombia Free Trade Agreement Goes into Force

Conflict, Violence, and Murders of Colombian Activists Concern U.S. Groups
10 Apr 2012
Publication
Rather than making premature judgments about progress in labor and human rights—judgments that are not supported by facts—the U.S. should use the opportunity of the meeting in Cartagena to encourage its ally to make further reforms.

Death and Impunity Increase in Chocó

Diocese of Quibdó Decries Grave Human Rights Situation in Chocó
20 Mar 2012
Publication
WOLA encourages the U.S. government to promptly act in order to guarantee human rights and territorial rights for Chocó’s Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples

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.

State of Emergency in Peru: President Humala's response to the mining protest

9 Dec 2011
Publication
In response to protests against a large mining project, Peru's center-left government has declared a state of emergency. The situation, seen as a test for the new government, is at an impasse. Adam talks to WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt.

Rebuilding El Salvador Sustainably

29 Nov 2011
Analysis & Commentary
Investing in small-scale, sustainable agriculture increases a country's resilience to extreme weather events, strengthens food security, and contributes to economic development in the rural sector. A decent job, food for the kids, and reduced threats from future natural disasters are powerful anchors to keep people from becoming climate refugees.

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.

Sunday's Local Elections in Colombia

Land restitution and the "Black Hand"
27 Oct 2011
Analysis & Commentary
Colombia's October 30, 2011 local elections are a crucial moment for the success of the Santos government's land restitution effort. If allies of the land thieves win, prospects for restitution -- and indeed, for peace in Colombia -- will dim considerably.

Remembering Sister Yolanda Cerón

13 Oct 2011
Video
A film by the Diocese of Tumaco in memory of Sister Yolanda Cerón

WOLA Reaction to Colombia-U.S. FTA Debate

A Statement by Executive Director Joy Olson
12 Oct 2011
News
WOLA opposed this agreement because the experience with similar agreements has taught us who the losers will be, those least able to bear the cost

FTA Turns a Blind Eye to Exploitation

U.S. Ignores Labor Rights Abuses in Colombia
6 Oct 2011
Analysis & Commentary
In the midst of the debate regarding the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, most of the U.S. Congress has convinced itself that lofty agreements have translated into tangible change. In practice, the labor rights situation in Colombia has not improved.

Guatemalan mining raises human rights concerns

The Global Development and Environment Institute (GDAE) at Tufts University has just released a study that examines a controversial gold mining project in Guatemala
3 Oct 2011
Publication
The issues raised in the study have implications for extractive industry projects and for human rights and social justice activists who follow these projects.

Protecting Mexican Guest Workers and Seeking a Saner Migration Policy

30 Sep 2011
Publication
Adam and WOLA Senior Associate for Rights and Development Vicki Gass talk with Chuck Barrett, a consultant to Catholic Relief Services, about rural development, migration, and protecting the rights of agricultural guest workers from Mexico.

Human Rights During the Juan Manuel Santos Administration’s First Year in Office

Background Report by USOC and WOLA
29 Sep 2011
Publication
The report offers analysis on the topics of extrajudicial executions, human rights defenders, Afro-Colombians, indigenous peoples, internal displacement, the Victims Law and sexual violence against women.

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