Dear John,
This Sunday’s presidential election represents a critical moment for Venezuela and the future of democracy in the region. The stakes are incredibly high as the results could either entrench authoritarian rule or open the door to transformative democratic reforms. Such changes could tackle the ongoing humanitarian crisis, restore the rule of law, and reconnect Venezuela with the global community. Additionally, the fate of almost 8 million Venezuelans living abroad and those still in the country hangs in the balance, with potential implications for increased migration if the situation further deteriorates.
This week, we produced two compelling commentaries based on interviews with experts, including Eugenio Martínez, Director of Votoscopio; Griselda Colina, Director of the Global Observatory on Communication and Democracy; Héctor G. Briceño, a visiting Researcher at the University of Rostock (Germany); and Tamara Taraciuk Broner, Director of the Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program at the Inter-American Dialogue. These interviews offer deep insights on electoral conditions and possible political scenarios. You can find these interviews and my weekly updates in this video playlist.
At WOLA, we are focused on this unfolding event. With four Venezuelans on our team, the stakes feel deeply personal. While we continue to monitor the situation, we are all rooting for the best possible outcome that puts democracy at the forefront and provides Venezuelans with a better future. On election day, our office will be bustling with activity—we’ll be closely monitoring developments on the ground, giving live interviews on various media outlets, and hosting an X Space as the polls close. You won’t want to miss it! All my best, |
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| Laura Dib Director for Venezuela |
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🎥 Check out this week's event with filmmakers Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís, and Executive Director of Border Network for Human Rights, Fernando Garcia, as we discuss the new documentary Borderland: The Line Within.
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Join WOLA's X Space with Director for Venezuela, Laura Dib, and special guests on Sunday, July 28 at 5pm EDT for a conversation on Venezuela's election day! This conversation will be in Spanish. |
WOLA's VP for Programs, Maureen Meyer, will moderate the event "Authoritarianism and Corruption: Crisis and Resistance in Central America" on Tuesday, July 30 at 11am EDT. This event will be in Spanish. |
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For human rights activists across Latin America right now, the stakes are high. Violence around elections is on the rise, as are threats against those who speak in favor of justice and accountability.
Your support of WOLA creates space to amplify the voices of those who put their life on the line to champion human rights; from Caracas, to San Salvador, and everywhere in between. |
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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.
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| "The Washington Office on Latin America, for example, argues that the U.S. government's efforts to restrict asylum access and increase border security have not only failed to reduce migration but have also intensified the dangers faced by migrants, including exposure to violence and exploitation."
WOLA
– World Politics Review, Panama’s Mulino Is Cracking Down on Migration in the Darien Gap
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Please consider making a gift to support the creation of our Weekly Newsletter, and all areas of our human rights advocacy work, by clicking the button above. Thank You! |
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