Dear John, We have rising concerns in the region of Central America after several events transpired this week that underscore the fragility of democratic institutions and civil society across the region.
First, we received troubling news regarding the resignation of a Commissioner from Honduras's Electoral Council (CNE), which serves as a warning for the country's upcoming general election in November of this year. We have previously expressed concern over mounting pressure on members within the committee and emphasized the critical need for robust observation and oversight of the elections, both national and international. In response to these developments, we released a statement and have continued to raise this issue with policymakers in both the United States and Honduras to ensure the viability of free and fair elections later this year.
We were also saddened to hear the news that our partner organization Cristosal was officially forced to move all of its operations out of El Salvador, succumbing to the mounting pressure of the Bukele administration. This troubling development comes just months after the passage of the Foreign Agents Law, which serves to choke civil society in El Salvador. We have spoken out against these restrictive measures, reiterating our commitment to supporting these vital organizations and their work. You can read our report on the use of anti-NGO legislation across the region, where El Salvador is featured as one of our case studies.
The international community remains crucially important in Central America, and we have been working diligently to encourage it to promote human rights and democracy throughout the region. That's why we recently wrote this analysis on the future of the justice system in Guatemala as it approaches a landmark year in 2026 with the renewal of several mandates of justice institutions, including the Attorney General's Office and the Constitutional Court. This analysis underscores the urgent need for support from global entities; we continue to work to pressure them to take meaningful action.
Our struggle continues. Sincerely, |
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Ana María Méndez Dardón Director for Central America |
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🇺🇸 🔎 We released our latest analysis examining the concerning cuts to the State Department and the broader retreat from U.S. support for human rights globally. Our piece lays out why Congress should take action to restore crucial funding. Read here!
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🇨🇴 🇺🇸 Our Director for the Andes Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli published an article in Razón Pública about the growing tensions between President Petro and the US Government, exploring the implications for bilateral relations. The article is in Spanish.
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💰 📄 We broke down Trump's big budget and examined how these proposed changes will impact immigrant communities and society itself in his latest analysis. The piece explores crucial insights into the far-reaching consequences of these budget priorities.
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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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“There’s going to be a lot of pressure, as they try to more than double ICE, to lower hiring standards — to just take more warm bodies. Maybe they don't look as closely at their backgrounds, maybe they go easy on the polygraphs. And a fear is you're going to get the kind of person who was attracted by all these videos ...'" Adam Isacson Director for Defense Oversight
– KPBS, How Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could supercharge immigration enforcement |
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