Analysis
Research and Policy Solutions for the Americas
We are known for our rigorous research and informed analysis on critical issues in the Americas. Our long-standing commitment to blending research and advocacy, collaborating with partners across the Americas, and serving as a trusted resource for policymakers, academics, and diverse audiences in both the U.S. and abroad, sets us apart. We produce analysis through reports, perspectives, features, Q&As and more.
Research
Explore in-depth research that provides critical insights into human rights, democracy, and public policy issues across Latin America.
-
Denouncing Into the Void: The Dismantling of Internal Oversight and Accountability at DHS
Download in printer-friendly PDF format Executive Summary One year ago, on March 21, 2025, hundreds of experienced employees overseeing the…
-
One year since the presidential election of July 28, 2024: the Venezuelan crisis
Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction I. July 28, 2024, as a pivotal moment in Venezuelan history II. Political Persecution…
Perspectives
Read unique perspectives on pressing human rights challenges shaping Latin America
-
Guatemala’s Attorney General Selection: A Critical Test for the Rule of Law and U.S. Engagement
Guatemala once again faces a pivotal opportunity to restore democratic institutions and rebuild the rule of law by selecting a…
-
Key things to know about the proposed foreign aid budget for FY2027
On April 3, 2026, the Trump administration presented to Congress its proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2027. While the…
-
Before More People Are Hurt: Why the Trump Administration’s ‘Joint Targeting’ Model Needs a Rethink
At a March 5 “Counter Cartel Coalition” conference, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told assembled Latin American military leaders that,…
-
Two months without Maduro in Venezuela: Democratic transition or authoritarian adaptation?
January 3, 2026 changed the course of history in Venezuela, and there are different perspectives on whether or not the…
-
The death of El Mencho and the Pyrrhic victories of the ‘war on drugs’ in Mexico
The death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), resulting from a Mexican…
-
Coca Chronicles: Coca review denouement
Issue #7: The UN drug scheduling system in dispute After a two-year critical review, the WHO has decided to retain…
Features
Explore articles, explainers and human-centered stories about the region.
-
Venezuela After January 3: Two Truths That Require the Attention of the International Community
The Facts In the early morning of January 3, we woke to an event we no longer believed possible in…
-
2025 Human Rights Award: Senator Tim Kaine’s Leadership on Latin America
When considering our awardees for this year’s Human Rights Award, we sought leaders and organizations who have demonstrated unwavering commitment…
-
Political Imprisonment in El Salvador and the Dismantling of Democracy
Political imprisonment in Latin America remains one of the gravest consequences of the ongoing democratic deterioration in several countries. Cuba,…
-
Peru’s Amnesty Law: Closing the circle of impunity?
Gisela Ortiz was 19 years old in 1992 when her brother Enrique was forcibly disappeared from La Cantuta University by…
Q&A
Our Q&A section features interviews with experts and advocates across the Americas
-
Q&A on Venezuela: Two things can hold true, and Venezuelans need support now
In contexts of deep political polarization, WOLA aims to provide elements for an objective analysis rooted in universal principles. Treating…
-
Q&A with WOLA’s Director for the Andes and this year’s Louis B. Sohn Human Rights Award recipient, Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli
The landmark Inter-American Court ruling in favor of displaced Afro-Colombian communities, the five-year delay of the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement,…
-
Uncertain Path to the Polls: Integrity and Trust at Risk in Honduras’s 2025 Elections
Honduras will hold general elections on November 30 amid growing political tensions and concerns over electoral integrity. Conflicts among members…
-
Q&A: Breakdown of the Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and Brazil Over the Bolsonaro Ruling
On September 11, Brazil’s Supreme Court found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty, sentencing him to 27 years and three months…
