WOLA joins the global community in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter, whose contributions to human rights and democracy left a lasting impact worldwide. During his tenure as the 39th President of the United States, Carter elevated human rights within U.S. foreign policy and his post-presidential work through the Carter Center further advanced these principles through initiatives promoting justice and democratic governance.
During his presidency (1977–1981), Carter redefined U.S. foreign policy by prioritizing human rights. In Latin America, he took bold steps to distance the U.S. from authoritarian regimes, such as those in Argentina and Chile, reducing or cutting military aid, publicly condemning human rights abuses, and working to free prisoners held under the dictatorship regimes in the Southern Cone. While these were essential shifts, his policies were not evenly applied throughout the region. For example, while cutting off direct military aid to Guatemala in 1977, the Carter administration continued to support the military regime in El Salvador; U.S. assistance was not suspended until after the murder of the four churchwomen in December 1980.
Carter named the first Assistant Secretary for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at the State Department, Patricia Murphy Derian, and during his term expanded the number of foreign service officers focused on human rights and asylum, refugee, and migration issues. He was instrumental in working with Congress to pass the Refugee Act of 1980, providing a legal framework for granting refugee and asylum status to people fleeing persecution worldwide.
One of Carter’s administrations contributions was the ratification of the Panama Canal Treaties, which gave control of the canal to Panama. This decision not only reflected Carter’s commitment to fairness but also marked an important point in U.S.-Latin American relations by respecting the sovereignty and self-determination of the Panamanian people and shifted the opinion of the region toward the U.S. from skepticism to cooperation.
Joe Eldridge, co-founder of WOLA, remembers Carter’s time in office, “he embedded human rights into U.S. policy toward the hemisphere and it stuck despite repeated efforts to roll it back. It represented a sea change in hemispheric relations – and literally saved the lives of countless detainees enduring the trauma of unjust treatment, torture and imprisonment. His light penetrated the darkness for countless numbers of prisoners unjustly jailed by the dictators who then ruled the region.”
Carter’s human rights advocacy extended far beyond his presidency. In 1982, he and Rosalynn Carter founded the Carter Center, dedicated to advancing peace, democracy, and health worldwide. Under his guidance, the Carter Center became a beacon for electoral observation and democratic integrity, monitoring more than 100 elections in 39 countries. Carter himself often traveled to conflict-ridden regions, lending his presence and credibility to ensure free and fair electoral processes. These efforts restored trust in democracy and empowered millions to exercise their right to vote in nations emerging from dictatorship or strife.
President Jimmy Carter’s work reminds us that the fight for human rights is an enduring responsibility, requiring courage, humility, and a commitment to equity.
WOLA extends its deepest condolences to the Carter family and the countless lives touched by his work and that of the Carter Center. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations.
