The U.S.-led “war on drugs” has failed to suppress the production, trafficking, or consumption of illegal drugs, while enriching and empowering criminal enterprises. The enforcement of harsh drug laws has led to human rights abuses, overcrowded prisons, and threats to democratic institutions. WOLA advocates for reducing the harms caused by both the drug trade and by drug policies themselves. Throughout the Americas, we work for reforms that protect human rights and promote public health.
John Walsh has coordinated WOLA’s Drug Policy program since 2003, in support of more humane and effective drug policies in the Americas. Respected for his combination of careful policy analysis and effective advocacy, Mr. Walsh has helped establish WOLA as…
Coletta Youngers is a Senior Fellow and leads WOLA’s women and incarceration project, which seeks to dramatically reduce the number of women in prison in Latin America and promote gender-sensitive drug policy reforms. She served for many years as a…
