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Dear John,

This week I recorded a podcast with my colleague Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli to discuss the regional implications of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and threats of unilateral military action in Mexico and Colombia. But we couldn't start that conversation without first addressing what happened this past Saturday in Minneapolis, when Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti. 

For those of us who work on human rights in Latin America, the pattern is painfully familiar: excessive use of force, official narratives that blame victims, and the difficulty of achieving accountability. In the podcast, before we dive into regional security threats, Gimena and I reflect on what we've learned from decades of documenting human rights abuses in Mexico and Colombia—where we've seen attempts to delegitimize and "other" victims, the critical importance of independent case documentation and evidence, and the crucial role of civil society in achieving accountability even when institutional mechanisms are designed to shield perpetrators. I discuss how Mexican families of the disappeared have changed narratives and broken assumptions that victims of violence somehow deserved their fate. 

The podcast also addresses the evolving regional situation, including threats of unilateral military action in Mexico and what that would mean for the bilateral relationship. You can listen here!

These are rapidly changing times, but WOLA is adapting to meet them. We remain determined to apply what we've learned from Latin America to hold power accountable wherever abuses occur. The road ahead is challenging, but we move forward with resolve. 

In solidarity, 

Stephanie Brewer

Director for Mexico

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.

“The Trump administration expects the militaries of the region to respond to U.S. priorities far more than at any other time since the Cold War ended. There may be explicit or implicit threats to militaries that don’t honor those priorities, with a nod to what’s happening in Venezuela.”

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

– The New York Times, Joint Chiefs Chairman Issues Rare Invitation to Foreign Military Heads

“He was the one to [expose the paramilitaries] at a time when it was incredibly dangerous. The impunity was so rampant … he was speaking to a Congress where 30 percent of it was linked to these groups.”

Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli

Director for the Andes

– Al Jazeera, Gustavo Petro: Colombia’s former rebel fighter turned president

“The combination of structural impunity, institutional capture, prioritization of private interests, and weakening of civic space poses significant risks to the country's governance and democracy. The failure to establish an International Commission against Impunity with the support of the United Nations, despite this being one of his promises before taking office, is one of his main shortcomings.” This article is in Spanish. 

Ana María Méndez Dardón

Director for Central America

– Expansión, El modelo Bukele gana terreno en Centroamérica ante el avance de la inseguridad

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