Dear John,
This week, we were saddened to hear that José Rubén Zamora, a long-time journalist and founder of the Guatemalan newspaper El Periódico, was arbitrarily sentenced to six years in prison. This represents the latest attack on freedom of expression in Guatemala ahead of the presidential elections set for June 25.
In other news this week, our President Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, along with WOLA board members and staff are in Tapachula, on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. They are meeting with partners, government officials, and international agencies, but also witnessing first-hand the despair faced by migrants and asylum seekers, as Mexico has stopped issuing documents that facilitated travel through the country and is transporting many to different parts of Mexico, under protocols that are not clear.
Ahead of elections at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), WOLA urged States to elect candidates who will work towards guaranteeing human rights in the region.
And, in case you missed it, late last week we issued a joint statement urging Congress to reject a bill seeking to label fentanyl as a “chemical weapon”.
Despite the huge challenges, we believe in a future where states across the Americas guarantee equal rights and opportunities to all LGBTQIA+ communities. We hope you will join WOLA in celebrating Pride this month of June.
All this and more in this week's WOLA Weekly.
Best,
