All Content: U.S. assistance

Recent Developments on the Use of Military Jurisdiction in Mexico

31 Jan 2012
Analysis & Commentary
In this memo, WOLA's Maureen Meyer analyzes recent developments and obstacles in transferring cases of human rights violations from military to civilian jurisdiction in Mexico, including the status of three such cases and the implications of the Mexican Supreme Court's July 2011 ruling.

"Consolidation," Land Restitution, and Rising Tensions in Montes de María, Colombia

Trip report from a November research visit to a major destination of U.S. aid
30 Jan 2012
Analysis & Commentary
We found a zone where, following several years of relative peace, tensions are rising. The national government is gearing up to launch an ambitious land-restitution program. Consolidation, meanwhile, gives a big role to the military while assisting small farmers, including returning displaced populations, and improving local government.

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.

An Uneasy Coexistence: Security and Migration Along the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez Border

In a trip report, WOLA finds violence failing to spill over, migration dropping, drug trafficking persisting, a huge security buildup, and migrants caught in the middle
20 Dec 2011
Analysis & Commentary
A trip report from two Fall 2011 visits of WOLA staff to the El Paso-Juárez border. We found violence failing to spill over, drug trafficking continuing, and migration dropping sharply amid an unprecedented U.S. security buildup. In the absence of a clear border security policy, the migrant population has been hit especially hard.

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.

U.S. Congressional Leaders Urge Administration to Focus on Migrant Rights in Mexico

Call on Secretary Clinton to Take Action
2 Dec 2011
News
The letter urges that this issue to be incorporated as part of the United States' bilateral dialogue with Mexico, a step supported by groups like the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a human rights advocacy group with over 30 years of expertise in U.S.-Mexican relations.

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.

Afro-Colombian Victims Ignored in Development of Victims’ Law

Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network (ACSN) Statement*
22 Nov 2011
Publication
Colombia has so much to gain from a law for victims of the internal armed conflict that respects the constitutional rights of the victims–the government only needs the political will to do so.

A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for U.S. Policy Toward Mexico and Beyond

10 Nov 2011
Publication
Whenever people discuss solutions to Mexico’s out-of-control violence, someone will inevitably bring up Colombia as a “model.” The report concludes that the ‘success’ of the past several years in Colombia is only a partial, and fragile, victory at best—and it has come at an unacceptably high human and institutional cost.

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.

Remembering Sister Yolanda Cerón

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

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.

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

WOLA's 2011 Human Rights Awards

8 Sep 2011
Video
On September 13, 2011, WOLA honored Gael Garcia Bernal, Ambulante, and CEDECO for promoting human rights and telling stories that make a difference. Check out this video about the amazing work of our honorees.

Colombia Human Rights Bulletin

August 2011
12 Aug 2011
Analysis & Commentary
The Colombia Human Rights Bulletin provides links to documents written by WOLA and organizations we partner with in Colombia on human rights, labor rights, and Afro-Colombian and indigenous issues.

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.

The Week Ahead

Peru's New President, Press Freedom in Ecuador, the U.S. Congress
30 Jul 2011
Publication
Adam discusses challenges facing newly inaugurated President Ollanta Humala in Peru; Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's lawsuit against a newspaper; cuts in U.S. aid to Mexico and other ways that the U.S. Congress is affecting Latin America policy.

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.

Report Back from Central America's Security Conference

A conversation with Geoff Thale and Adriana Beltrán
1 Jul 2011
Publication
WOLA Program Director Geoff Thale and Senior Associate Adriana Beltran were recently in Guatemala City, where Central America's presidents and international donors were discussing responses to Central America's severe citizen security challenges.