Dear John,

This week at WOLA, we have been deeply engaged in conversations about the urgent challenges to democracy and justice in Central America. I had the honor of hosting a high-level delegation to discuss the state of corruption and the worrying deterioration of the judicial system in Guatemala. As part of these discussions, we convened a roundtable at WOLA’s offices where Julián Alfie Director of INECIP (Institute of Comparative Studies in Criminal and Social Sciences), a leading civil society organization that has worked for over 35 years across 15 Latin American countries to promote evidence-based justice reform. 

NECIP recently published an in-depth report analyzing the performance of Guatemala’s Public Prosecutor’s Office during the administration of Consuelo Porras (2018–2025). The report examines institutional setbacks in prosecutorial independence, democratic backsliding, and the erosion of rule of law in Guatemala—issues with direct relevance to U.S. policy on democracy and governance in the region. We also welcomed the leadership of Congressman Jim McGovern, who brought together other Members of Congress, including Representatives Norma Torres, Joaquín Castro, and Ilhan Omar, to discuss how the U.S. Congress can help support the fight against impunity and the defense of democratic institutions in Guatemala. Their engagement will be crucial in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, our team continues to closely monitor the upcoming general elections in Honduras, where we are deeply concerned about political dynamics that could further weaken democratic governance. Together with our colleagues at Human Rights Watch, we published an op-ed in El País highlighting the threats facing Honduran democracy and the urgent need for international attention. You can read it in English here. 

The issues unfolding across Central America remind us of the diverse and complex challenges the region faces. At WOLA, we remain committed to working with our partners and allies to ensure that citizens in Guatemala, Honduras, and across Central America can live in societies where justice, accountability, and democracy are not just ideals, but realities.

Sincerely, 

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

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.

“Overseas military strikes certainly won’t solve drug overdose deaths in the U.S., which are far better addressed through public health measures. What military action abroad would do is open the door to increased violence, forced migration, and incalculable damage to U.S. relations with neighboring countries.”

Stephanie Brewer

Director for Mexico

– The Intercept, Can Congress Stop Trump From Starting a War in Mexico?

"Venezuela is likely to be contemplated in the Trump administration’s new military directive. The administration just added the “Cartel de los Soles”—a shadowy network of military officers involved in drug trafficking— to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and included the “Tren de Aragua,” as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), while increasing the reward it is offering for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro." This article is in Spanish.

WOLA

– El Tiempo, El envío de militares de Estados Unidos para combatir a los narcotraficantes en América Latina es un error estratégico y diplomático, dice Wola

"Additional constraints [on freedom of expression in El Salvador] include laws threatening journalists with lengthy prison sentences […] along with the broad use of the state of emergency to curtain constitutional rights and judicial independence."

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

– Latin America Reports, U.S. says “no credible reports of significant human rights abuses” in El Salvador

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