All Content: trade

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.

GM Walks Out of Talks with Hunger Strikers in Colombia

U.S. Policymakers Must Keep Promises to Colombia’s Workers
8 Aug 2012
News
GM’s unwillingness to dialogue suggests that much more needs to be done to protect the rights of workers in Colombia.

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.

Murder of Trade Unionist Underscores Fragility of U.S.-Colombia Labor Action Plan

Threats and Attacks Have Increased Since Obama’s Announcement to Move Forward with Free Trade Agreement
30 Apr 2012
Publication
The freedom to organize without fear of reprisal is fundamental to the creation of a fair working environment—Mr. Aguirre’s murder is a tragic reminder that this freedom does not exist in Colombia.

Paramilitaries Send Unionists an Invitation to Their Own Funeral

SINTRAEMCALI Subjected to More Death Threats
23 Apr 2012
Analysis & Commentary
This threat by the Black Eagles paramilitaries demonstrates that trade unionists and labor activists are targeted precisely for defending basic labor rights

Congressional Statements Opposing Obama's Decision to Move Forward with FTA

Rep. McGovern and Rep. Levin Express Concerns about Labor Rights in Colombia
17 Apr 2012
Publication
"At a time when threats and murders of human rights and land rights leaders are escalating, and threats and violence against labor activists continue unabated, this premature decision sends the wrong signal at the wrong time."

Obama’s Opportunity to Publicly Express Support for Trade Unions in Colombia

Union Leader’s Murder Sends Chilling Message about Lack of Labor Rights Guarantees
12 Apr 2012
Analysis & Commentary
Impunity for murders and threats against labor organizers emboldens perpetrators. Virulent anti-union sentiment results in violence directed against trade unionists and labor activists.

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.

Summit of the Americas: Walking the Walk on Partnership

5 Apr 2012
Analysis & Commentary
The presidents of the Americas (with some notable exceptions) will gather once again later this month. President Obama will likely again focus on partnership, engagement, and co-responsibility. These are the right ideas, and they can revolutionize our relationship with the hemisphere.

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.

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.

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.

Labor Action Plan: Just Paper or Real Changes?

Gimena Sanchez on the Pending U.S.-Colombia FTA
23 Sep 2011
Analysis & Commentary
Twenty-two trade unionists have been murdered so far in 2011, with ten of them killed after the April 15 announcement of the Labor Action Plan. Death threats and efforts to discredit labor activists also continue.

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

Climate Smart Agriculture in Latin America: A Sustainable Development Alternative

8 Sep 2011
Video
Jonathan Castro, of the Educational Corporation for Costa Rican Development (CEDECO), speaks with WOLA’s Vicki Gass about how small-scale, alternative agriculture can become a powerful tool for climate change mitigation and poverty reduction.

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