(Emmanuel Andrés/Prensa Comunitaria)

Dear John,

This week has been a turbulent one and perhaps a reflection of the year to come. As I am sure you heard, Ecuador is experiencing a major security crisis following an escalation of violence by criminal groups in the past few days. As I explained to NPR, the ongoing violence has been exacerbated by a political crisis and prohibitionist drug policies that make illegal drug trafficking a lucrative business. 

President Daniel Noboa has called in the military and declared an internal armed conflict. As I told the BBC, WOLA is concerned that Ecuadorean citizens will bear the brunt of policies that could violate human rights.

On a more positive note, in Guatemala, after years of democratic backsliding and attempts by authorities to overturn last August’s election results, president-elect Bernardo Arévalo looks finally set to take office this Sunday, January 14. 

His government will face many challenges but we are hopeful that Guatemala will be able to turn over a new leaf. Support from indigenous groups, the private sector and the international community will of course be key. Take a look at WOLA’s explainer to learn more about what awaits this incoming government. 

As always, thank you for supporting WOLA.

Best,

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

WOLA President

Heather Hanson, former Executive Director for the U.S. Office on Colombia and Peace Brigades International volunteer, recently released “Hope for a Better Past: A Novel About Human Rights in Colombia.” This novel gives readers an inside look into the reality faced by civilians in conflict ridden areas of Colombia and the experience of advocating for human rights in Washington, D.C.. 

According to the Institute of Studies in Development and Conflict (INDEPAZ), Colombia experienced 93 massacres with a total of 300 victims in 2023 alone. Also in 2023, 188 social leaders (including human rights defenders, indigenous and afro-colombians, local community council leaders, trade unionists, land rights, LGBTQ+ and cultural leaders) were murdered. 

WOLA’s Colombia program works to prevent social leaders from harm and to advance justice for the relatives of the leaders who were assassinated. We also work on building strong U.S.-Colombia relations in order to advocate for peace, human rights, justice, and Afro-Colombian and Indigenous rights, all with a gendered approach.

If you are interested please make a gift on our website by Friday January 19, 2024. For any questions, please contact Jillian Leslie, Director for Individual Giving at [email protected]. 

WOLA extends a heartfelt thank you to Heather for this offer, and for her work to preserve and restore human rights.  

🇬🇹 This week, Ana María Méndez Dardón, Director for Central America, speaks on the opportunities and challenges that the Bernardo Arévalo government faces as the newly-elected Guatemalan president takes office this Sunday, January 14. 

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. 

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval,

WOLA President

– Press Play with Madeleine Brand, What’s driving the violence in Ecuador?

"We're very concerned about this lack of transparency and clear lack of norms and rules around this vote [...] The lack of checks and balances and the concentration of power that Bukele has is worrisome for any democracy."

Ana María Méndez Dardón,

Director for Central America

– ABC News, Votes by El Salvador's diaspora surge, likely boosting President Bukele in elections

Fighting organized crime in ways that skirt the rule of law “may achieve a short-term semblance of victory, but ultimately it’s serving the aims of those who would destroy and co-opt the state to begin with, and it will leave everybody less secure.”

John Walsh,

Director for Drug Policy and the Andes

– Vox, Cocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explained

📸 Check out this photo exhibition on migrants in Mexico City's Museo de la Cancillería by WOLA's Digital Content Creator, Sergio Ortiz now through February 17, 2024!  

🎉 WOLA is officially on Threads!

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