This week, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Joe Biden met at the White House to discuss Venezuela, climate change and regional migration, among other topics. Ahead of this meeting, we published a statement urging Biden to discuss the implementation of the 2016 Peace Accord, including developing a clear strategy for implementing the Ethnic Chapter, protecting social leaders and promoting justice for human rights abuses, as well as advancing Total Peace and alleviating the various humanitarian crises. The security situation in Colombia remains of grave concern in a number of regions, as highlighted by a statement we co-signed in response to the recent violence in the Pacific municipality of Buenaventura.

Petro’s U.S. trip independently coincided with the visit of a delegation composed of three human rights defenders who were awarded Colombia’s National Human Rights Prize in 2022. WOLA accompanied them to meet with State Department officials and Hill staffers and hosted a panel focusing on the need for a gendered, rural and environmental approach to peace.

As part of our efforts to promote democracy, the rule of law, and respect for civil and political rights during the 2023 Guatemalan electoral process, WOLA President Carolina Jiménez Sandoval is currently taking part in a delegation to Guatemala with members of  Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR). The organizations have met with civil society, public officials, independent press, diplomatic corps and the United Nations in order to understand the current challenges ahead of the presidential elections in June. 

Additionally, next week, we will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 25, at 2:00pm EDT with Mexican civil society organizations that accompany survivors and family members of the recent immigration detention center fire in Ciudad Juárez. And on Wednesday, April 26, we will be hosting an event with Veterans for Colombia at 2:00pm EDT. Please join us either virtually or in person.

All this and more in this week's WOLA Weekly.

Best,

Gimena Sánchez

Director for the Andes

This week, WOLA hosted an event with three human rights defenders who were awarded the 2022 National Human Rights Prize in Colombia, Angélica Romero Villalba, Jani Rita Silva De Rengifo, and Diana María Salcedo López. During the event, they highlighted their efforts in advancing peace, women’s rights and environmental protection in Colombia. 

In April 2022, WOLA launched its one-of-a-kind Border Oversight Database, which documents hundreds of reports of human rights violations and abuses against migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

“The speed with which he has co-opted all levels of power, in just one presidential period, is astonishing.”

– The Guardian, El Salvador news outlet relocates to Costa Rica to avoid Bukele’s crackdown

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

WOLA President

Gimena Sánchez

Director for the Andes

"Both countries should discuss how they can redouble their efforts in order to consolidate [the Peace agreement]." 

– CNN Español, Petro llega a su encuentro con Biden en Washington con una agenda ambiciosa y la mira puesta en Venezuela

This article is in Spanish.

El Tiempo, one of Colombia's leading news outlets published an article based on WOLA's statement on "Four Key Issues Ahead of the Biden-Petro Meeting".

– El Tiempo, Los cuatro puntos clave de reunión Biden-Petro, según ONGs de derechos humanos

This article is in Spanish.

At WOLA, internships are critical to arming future generations of advocates with the necessary skills to champion human rights and social justice work in their careers. Please consider contributing to WOLA’s internship program today!

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