Friday, September 11, 2026 |
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Dear John,
There are limited days when Congress will be in session before the midterm elections, but we're ready to keep pushing forward on the issues that matter most across the Americas, even during recess. WOLA is gearing up for another busy fall of advocating for human rights and democracy in the region. Here’s what’s on our radar with U.S. policymakers.
We have been engaging with congressional offices regarding the worsening human rights crisis under the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, including a growing number of cases of transnational repression, and providing staffers with information to prepare for important hearings on Nicaragua this September. With the upcoming elections in Brazil, we have been meeting with a growing number of congressional offices to discuss the dynamics on the ground and tensions in the bilateral relationship, while encouraging expressions of support for the integrity of Brazil’s electoral institutions and a rejection of international interference in the election process.
We supported a civil society letter sent to multiple congressional committees calling for oversight and accountability over the unlawful boat strikes that have killed 230 people to date, and we will continue to brief congressional offices on drug policy alternatives that prioritize domestic public health initiatives and foreign assistance centered on support for citizen security and reforms to criminal justice institutions. We also continue to brief congressional offices on the rapidly changing scenarios in Venezuela, where our message stays consistent: U.S. engagement should advance a genuine and credible democratic transition, but current policy seems to be delaying a pathway towards free and fair elections and the urgent rebuilding of Venezuela's institutionality.
This is just a snapshot of the work ahead this fall. Influencing U.S. foreign policy doesn’t happen through a single hearing, briefing, meeting, or email; it takes steady, ongoing engagement with the people who make these decisions. The fact-based information we provide, the partners we bring, and relationships we continue to build make all of this possible.
Thank you, as always, for standing with us. |
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Maureen Meyer Vice President for Programs | |
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🇧🇷 We published a new piece on changing relations between Brazil and the United States as tariffs and other developments continue to push Brazil to partner more with China. Read it here.
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🎥 WOLA President Carolina Jimenez Sandoval spoke with Fernando del Rincón on CNN en Español about the one-year anniversary of the boat strikes. Watch it here.
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🧠 Our summer 2026 interns interviewed Maureen Meyer, WOLA's Vice President for Programs, about civic space in the region. Watch it here.
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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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"[Photos of President De la Espriella posing with cadavers are] trying to get people excited about not just statistics about the homicide rate, but actually about these visuals in almost a cartoonish or pro-wrestling kind of way to appeal to people’s basest instincts." Adam Isacson Director for Defense Oversight – The New York Times, Colombia’s New President Poses With Dead Bodies in Show of Force |
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“China has been an important partner [for Nicaragua], particularly due to its investments in mining, mainly gold. Russia plays a greater role in military affairs, providing training to the armed forces and security forces. Iran also maintains relations with Managua, although its economic influence is much less significant than China's." This article is in Spanish.
Ana María Méndez Dardón Director for Central America – Deutsche Welle, EE. UU. pide aislar a Nicaragua: ¿quién sigue con Ortega?
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