(Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

Dear John,

As you may recall, on June 27, 2023 it was announced that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) would resume his investigation on crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Venezuela since 2014. Following an investigation in fits and starts and a government sponsored disinformation campaign, WOLA published Combating Disinformation: Venezuela’s Case Before the International Criminal Court, a series of questions and answers to shine a light on this complex process. For more details, take a look at our report.

This week, WOLA signed a joint statement and a press release advocating for the Biden administration's continued assistance and support in fully implementing Colombia's 2016 Peace Accord and moving negotiations between the ELN and the Colombian government forward. 

Additionally, Senior Fellow, Coletta Youngers, published an article about the need for better alternatives to imprisonment for women in the Americas. 

In other news, a new wave of protests took place in Lima, Peru last week as Peruvians urged the Boluarte government and Congress to offer solutions to the ongoing democratic and humanitarian crisis. At WOLA, we remain committed to monitoring the situation in Peru as we join the international community in urging the government to respect the country’s citizens’ right to protest. 

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

Best,

Laura Dib

Director for Venezuela

Last week, WOLA's Central America program met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Roig to discuss our efforts in advancing human rights, justice, security, and transparency in                    El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. 

🇨🇴 On July 27, WOLA's Director for the Andes, Gimena Sánchez, joins a new episode of Colombia Acuerdo Paz to talk with U.S. Colombian Ambassador, Luis Gilberto Murillo, about recent U.S. congressional discussions on 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. 

"All human beings deserve the opportunity to defend themselves in court. How can they do this effectively in group trials? How can lawyers and public defenders do their work this way?” 

– The Guardian, El Salvador clears way for mass trials as crackdown on gangs ramps up

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval 

President

Stephanie Brewer

Director for Mexico

As a result of the GIEI announcing its end to its work on the Ayotzinapa case, Stephanie states, "Unfortunately, the GIEI is leaving not because there is truth and justice for the families, but because it does not have the conditions to advance further." This tweet is in Spanish.

"Since 2021, the city of Eagle Pass, along the banks of Rio Grande and just a few hours from San Antonio, has been a prime crossing point for people seeking to turn themselves in to U.S. authorities and ask for asylum, as is their legal right. [...] On Sept. 1 last year, 13 migrants drowned there. Earlier in 2022, authorities had recovered 12 bodies from the river in a single day." 

– MSNBC, Texas' plan to make crossing the Rio Grande more dangerous is inhumane 

This is an op-ed written by Adam Isacson. 

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

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