** Latin America in Review: Regional Human Rights | Colombia Military Espionage | Political Crisis in Venezuela
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At WOLA, our mission is advancing human rights in the Americas, which is part of our broad vocation in the universal protection and defense of human rights. This past May, because of the brutal killings of Black people by largely unaccountable police forces in our own communities, that means reaffirming our commitments to allies who are working to dismantle deadly and racialized systems of injustice. It means continuing our work with those fighting the militarization of police forces that too often target ethnic and minority communities.

It also challenges us to think more critically about race and human rights in Latin America and elsewhere. That's a long process, but an important one that requires us to listen more closely to often invisibilized Afro-descendent and indigenous communities, and to understand and support their struggles against police abuse, for equality and inclusion, and for land and territorial rights.

In this month’s newsletter, we're unveiling a new section that will highlight the work of our partners in the region. As events in the United States remind us that the struggle for racial justice and equality must be a key part of the commitment to defend and advance human rights, we focus this section this month on the work of Afro-descendent partners. It’s important to follow them and learn from them, and to think critically about how we can best support them. To them we say, tú lucha es mi lucha.


** Our Partners in Action
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STANDING FOR AFRO-COLOMBIAN RIGHTS
The president of AFRODES (Asociación Nacional de Afrocolombianos Desplazados), Marino Córdoba, calls on the Colombian national government to guarantee the fundamental rights of Afro-Colombian communities.
Watch the full video in Spanish here. ([link removed])

JUSTICE FOR JOÃO PEDRO
Following the death of a 14 year-old Black teenager at the hands of the police, the Black Coalition for Rights is demanding that the city and state of Rio de Janeiro, as well as Brazilian society more broadly, take action to protect Black lives.
Read the petition here. ([link removed])


** WOLA in Action
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Earlier this month, WOLA hosted a livestream discussion with individuals targeted by Colombia military illegal surveillance and with Colombia human rights experts. Watch the entire discussion, with full English translation, on YouTube. ([link removed])

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. Congress, joined WOLA in conversation about Colombia after new revelations on Colombia military espionage. Listen to the interview on the LATIN AMERICA TODAY podcast. ([link removed])

Geoff Ramsey, WOLA's Director for Venezuela, and David Smilde, Senior Fellow for Venezuela, contributed perspectives in multiple reports on the failed incursion into Venezuela. You can learn more about the latest on the Venezuela Politics and Human Rights Blog ([link removed]) .


** From Our Experts
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A New Scandal Underscores Colombia’s Stubborn Inability to Reform Military Intelligence
Read the Commentary ([link removed])
MEXICAN NATIONAL GUARD: One Year After National Guard’s Creation, Mexico is Far from Demilitarizing Public Security ([link removed])

AUTHORITARIANISM IN LATIN AMERICA: Opinion: Latin America’s Next Generation of Authoritarians is Using COVID-19 to Consolidate Power ([link removed])

CUBA-U.S. RELATIONS: Inaccurate Trump Administration Charges Against Cuba Damage Prospects for Peace Talks in Colombia and Elsewhere ([link removed])

HUMAN RIGHTS IN MEXICO: Mexico Needs Comprehensive Strategies to Combat Violence against Journalists and Human Rights Defenders ([link removed])

BORDER WALL FUNDING: COVID-19 Brings the Waste Behind Trump’s Border Wall Into Focus ([link removed])

PRESS RELEASE ON COLOMBIA: Rep. McGovern, Colombian Human Rights Leaders Call For Review of U.S. Military Aid to Colombia ([link removed])

VENEZUELA'S POLITICAL CRISIS: Venezuela: COVID-19, Sanctions, Outside Powers, Florida Politics, and the Search for a Political Solution ([link removed])

HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA: The State of Human Rights in Colombia: Military Espionage, COVID-19, and Ongoing Abuses ([link removed])

A PEACEFUL, NEGOTIATED SOLUTION IN VENEZUELA: Venezuela’s Democratic Coalition Should Return to Being a Credible Source of Hope ([link removed])

DUE PROCESS FOR MIGRANTS: U.S. and Mexico Must Urgently Address Impact of Ongoing Deportations and Expulsions During COVID-19 ([link removed])

ASYLUM LAW AND MPP: Practicing Asylum Law in El Paso: “MPP is just—it’s utterly insane” ([link removed])



** WOLA in the News

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"[The president of El Salvador] Bukele is very focused on getting done what he believes needs to get done, and has little patience for his critics, or for the institutions that oppose, slow, or limit his ability to act. He's used social media to attack his critics, including journalists. He's repeatedly attacked the National Assembly- which is dominated by the two traditional political parties, which are hostile to him." - Geoff Thale, President of WOLA for CNN ([link removed])

“Put a $15m reward on Nicolás Maduro like we are in the wild west and you can pretty much count on some people acting like cowboys. In the end this has strengthened the Maduro government in its efforts to look invincible, and has undermined the Guaidó government’s efforts to look legitimate and competent.” - David Smilde, Senior Fellow for Venezuela, in the Guardian ([link removed]) .

“[False reports filed to obfuscate Colombia military espionage] really shows they are diverting a huge amount of resources for a few bad officers. This will put the Pentagon on alert about where the relationship is headed.” - Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, in the Wall Street Journal. ([link removed])


** Beyond the Wall Campaign Update
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In May, WOLA pushed back against cruel policies in the United States and in the region that have exacerbated a public health and human rights crisis on and beyond the border. We amplified the harrowing consequences of these policies in multiple interviews with advocates and partners on the ground.

In our latest BEYOND THE WALL podcast, we talked with the Santa Fe Dreamers project about their clients' experiences in ICE detention centers. We also spoke with Dr. Tracy Green, a Brandeis University professor and Dana Gold, senior counsel with the Government Accountability Project, on how a pair of Homeland Security whistleblowers spoke out against conditions of ICE detention facilities during COVID-19 pandemic. We also discussed their mathematical model study which revealed that ICE detention facilities face up to 100 percent infection rate if no action to release detained migrants is taken.
Join the BEYOND THE WALL campaign to learn more. ([link removed])
Latest Joint Statement
U.S. Expulsion Policy Leaves Migrants in Situations of Extreme Vulnerability Amidst Border Closings ([link removed])

Latest Podcast
Beyond the Wall Podcast: The Human Consequences of ICE Detention Centers ([link removed])

[link removed]


** Upcoming Events
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Wednesday, September 22
2020 WOLA Human Rights Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala ([link removed])

All Events ([link removed])
Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Assistant
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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