Washington, D.C.—WOLA (The Washington Office on Latin America) is proud to announce that Senior Fellow Claudia Paz y Paz has been selected to serve as the Secretary for Multidimensional Security for the Organization of American States (OAS). While her contributions will be missed, WOLA is confident that Ms. Paz y Paz’s deep expertise on issues of citizen security and strengthening the rule of law will be invaluable to the OAS moving forward.
“Claudia has been an instrumental part of WOLA’s team,” said WOLA Executive Director Matt Clausen. “While we’re sorry to see her go, her commitment to human rights and a vision of a safer, more just hemisphere remains an inspiration for us all. We are honored that she chose to lend her time and expertise to WOLA, and look forward to working with her in her new role as Secretary of Multidimensional Security.”
Claudia Paz y Paz, the first female Attorney General of Guatemala, became a WOLA Senior Fellow in 2016 and has aided WOLA’s work on insecurity, judicial reform, and issues of impunity in Central America. Prior to joining WOLA, Ms. Paz y Paz served on the Group of Independent Experts convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to provide technical assistance in the investigation of the 2014 case of 43 disappeared students in Mexico. During her time as Attorney General, Ms. Paz y Paz brought to justice prominent human rights abusers from Guatemala’s civil war period, most notably leading the team that assembled the case against former Guatemalan dictator Efraín Ríos Montt. In 2013, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“I thank WOLA for the opportunity to promote human rights in the region as a Senior Fellow. The work of WOLA is of vital importance toward the strengthening of rule of law and fighting impunity in Central America and the region. I wish WOLA every success in this common struggle,” said Paz y Paz.
