Dear John,
Here in DC, spring has sprung, and we are in the midst of final preparations for our 50th Anniversary Human Rights Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala on May 9th. This year we will be honoring Senator Patrick Leahy, Venezuela Program Education-Action on Human Rights (PROVEA), and the Collectives of Family Members of the Disappeared in Guanajuato, Mexico. We will soon announce our presenters and emcee so stay tuned and please visit our webpage for more information. In these turbulent times for human rights, it's crucial for us to gather and celebrate this milestone achievement for WOLA!
It seems that everywhere I turn, everyone wants to talk about the decline of democracy not only in the region, but across the globe. Recently I was invited to speak at the II Congress on Democracy and Human Rights at the University of Sergio Arboleda in Bogotá, Colombia. While there, I spoke about the new forms of authoritarianism facing the region and I emphasized that today’s authoritarianism is cross-ideological, meaning authoritarians are on both sides of the political spectrum and they’re willing to work and learn from one another no matter what political ideology they follow.
During our Q+A, students asked me a wide range of interesting questions. One student proclaimed her beliefs aligned more with the right, but said she was not shy to stand and fight for the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community. She wondered how we can go about this work without falling into the trap of polarizing labels. I was glad I had accepted the challenge to engage with her and others. In this polarized era, we must remain open to differing viewpoints. As authoritarian leaders restrict debate and civic space, it falls upon us as defenders of democracy and human rights to maintain channels of engagement.
This year, a number of significant elections are occurring across the region, notably in Venezuela and Mexico, which we are closely monitoring. The honorees for our 50th Anniversary Gala from these countries confront substantial challenges in electing leaders who will uphold their rights. In Venezuela, the Maduro regime's actions threaten to undermine the upcoming elections, including insufficient time for organization and silencing opposition voices, leading to increased repression against civil society organizations like PROVEA. Unfortunately, the prospects for a return to democracy in Venezuela appear bleak, with continued repression and human rights violations looming. In Mexico, the collectives of families of the disappeared in Guanajuato contend with a president who disregards human rights concerns. While President Lopez Obrador's term ends, the likely transition to Mexico’s first female president does not guarantee advances in the human rights agenda, as highlighted by WOLA’s Stephanie Brewer. Therefore, ongoing support for victims, families, and human rights organizations remains essential.
Here in the United States, as the 2024 presidential elections get underway, the coming months will be a dangerous and demanding time for the issue of migration as the parties seek to control the narrative of what is happening at the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans have been ramping up their xenophobic rhetoric, going so far as to dehumanize migrants and asylum seekers, while President Biden and many Democrats have been trying to appear tough on immigration. We recognize the challenges the Biden Administration faces in countering the authoritarianism of Donald Trump. However, this does not justify policies that endanger migrants and asylum seekers. At WOLA, the high demand for media interviews and Adam Isacson’s Weekly Border Report highlights the crucial need for our expertise on the border. We aim to combat falsehoods and misguided policies while providing reality-based alternatives.
I want to express admiration for the bravery shown by civil society organizations, democracy activists, and human rights defenders globally. In February, the Venezuelan government arrested a dear colleague, prominent human rights defender Rocío San Miguel. Rocío was forcibly disappeared for a few days, and friends and family had no idea where to turn to find her. Since her arbitrary arrest, only her daughter has had limited contact with her. In the days following Rocío’s arrest, journalists contacted those of us outside of the country such as myself and our Director for Venezuela, Laura Dib to help shed light of the situation in Venezuela. In a time of such uncertainty, many human rights defenders in Venezuela can’t afford to be vocal for fear of being arrested or worse, disappeared. Another fellow human rights defender, Javier Tarazona, will soon reach 1,000 days in jail. As a colleague and friend, I am committed to raising awareness not only about Rocío's and Javier’s cases, but also about the challenges faced by civil society leaders throughout the region.
Amidst discussions of threats to democracy and human rights, we must acknowledge the tragic death of Alexei Navalny in Russia. Despite Russia's geographic distance from Latin America, its support for authoritarian regimes in the region and involvement in destabilizing politics globally cannot be ignored. A year ago, Yulia Navalnaya highlighted her husband's imprisonment as their story was recognized at the Academy Awards. Now, a year later, Alexei Navalny is gone, leaving Yulia and others to continue the struggle. In the poignant final scene of the film about him, Navalny's message to the Russian people and the world resonates: "If they decide to kill me, it means we are incredibly strong…we do not recognize how powerful we are. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. Don’t be inactive."
We are witnessing repression patterns we have seen in the past and that we thought were behind us. But, I’m not losing hope, because I believe there are still lots of pockets of light in the region that are fighting against the darkness that authoritarians are spreading.
We must always remember the struggle for human rights has been a source of strength and light for millions of people. We, at WOLA, are proud to stand with them now as we have for the last 50 years.
