WOLA: Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas
18 Nov 2013 | News

Secretary Kerry Speaks at the OAS

Dear Member of the Press,

In light of Secretary of State John Kerry's speech this morning at the Organization of American States (OAS), we would like to make available to you comments from Joy Olson, Executive Director of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

"With the exception of climate change, the speech did not provide anything new and ignored things that Latin American nations have been asking of the United States," said WOLA Executive Director Joy Olson. "The Secretary ignored Latin America's call for changing failed drug policies. There was no reference to immigration reform. He neglected one of the most pressing issues in Latin America and one to which the United States is providing billions in assistance: violence and organized crime. And he resorted to 50-year-old rhetoric on Cuba that is out of step with the region."

If you would like more information on the impact that Secretary Kerry's speech will have on Latin America, as well as WOLA's work to address these pressing issues in the region, please let us know and we will be happy to put you in contact with Ms. Olson.

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Contact:
Jessamine Bartley-Matthews
Communications Assistant
Washington Office on Latin America
Tel: (202) 797-2171
Email: jbartleymatthews@wola.org