This past month, we saw turmoil continue in Colombia, with more massacres, violence against social leaders, and a spike in police abuses across the country. Ethnic communities bear the brunt of this violence due to the failure of the Duque administration's efforts to fully implement the 2016 peace accords. September also brought devastating news from ICE detention centers, underscoring the humanitarian catastrophe happening the U.S. southern border and in U.S. migrant detention facilities. The critical need for humane policies at the border is why WOLA's 2020 Human Rights Award recognized the courageous efforts of the Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Center in southern Mexico and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) to protect the rights of migrants and asylum seekers.
Learn more about our latest work by visiting our website and following us on social media.
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On September 22, 2020, WOLA held its first virtual and first fully bilingual gala, with participants from across the Americas. This year's honorees, Rep. Veronica Escobar and the Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Center, are extraordinary advocates who have worked relentlessly to protect the dignity of migrants and asylum seekers, at a time when there are monumental threats to human rights in the Americas. While we had some technical issues, stay tuned for a clean recording of the event we'll be sending around soon!
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Our Partners in Action
The recipients of the 2020 WOLA Human Rights Award are courageous advocates who know from deep personal experience that borders should not be barriers to human rights.
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Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Center (Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico)
For their commitment to supporting, protecting, and defending migrants, asylum applicants, refugees and their families on the Mexico-Guatemala border.
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Congresswoman Veronica Escober (D-TX)
For her leadership in restoring the human rights of asylum seekers at a time when the treatment of this population is anything but humane and dignified. Thank you Congresswoman Escobar!
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On the heels of several horrifying incidents of violence in Colombia, WOLA and the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights hosted a virtual event which brought social leaders from ethnic communities to discuss Colombia's fight for truth, justice, and racial equality. Watch the event in Spanish here. |
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On September 15, WOLA hosted an event bringing together civil society leaders from across Venezuela, who spoke on the critical need for dialogue to address the country's ongoing political crisis.
Watch the event in Spanish here. |
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COVID-19 is accelarating an alarming trend: the politicization of the armed forces, and the deployment of soldiers instead of police or other civil institutions to handle security and public health tasks. WOLA moderated a wide-ranging discussion on this issue with experts from six countries.
Watch the event in Spanish here. |
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In this episode of Latin America Today, Gustavo Gorriti, managing director of IDL Reporteros and one of the best-known investigative journalists in Latin America, joins us along with WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt, to discuss ongoing political instability in Peru.
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WOLA in the News
Mexico:
“They’re inviting people to self-deport...The fact that the Mexican government diverted funding designated to address the economic push factors driving migration to the U.S. in favor of moving asylum-seekers away from Mexico’s northern to southern border, and to improve conditions in Mexico’s detention centers, is a clear sign of how the López Obrador administration has shifted its migration priorities in response to the demands of the Trump administration.” - Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs and Director for Mexico and Migrant Rights, in The Associated Press.
El Salvador:
On allegations that President Bukele had closed-door talks negotiating with MS-13: “It is 180 degrees away from his public stance about how he would address the gangs...It is particularly ironic, contradictory and hypocritical.” - Geoff Thale, WOLA President in Vice News.
Venezuela:
“What matters is not how many seats you have in Parliament, but whether you’re able to mobilize a suffering population around the reality of daily struggle...Maduro has won the battle. He certainly hasn’t won the war.” - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in the New York Times.
Colombia:
On recent investigations into the Colombian army gathering intelligence on journalists and human rights defenders: “Nobody who knows anything about Colombia has any reason to be confident that the intellectual authors will be held accountable.” - Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, in The Guardian.
“Disproportionate use of force in Colombian police forces is not a new problem neither is the misuse of weapons meant to disperse protests or pacify.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera.
Peru:
On President Vizcarra surviving impeachment vote: “In the overall scheme of things, Vizcarra has won this round, but winning is a very relative term.” - Jo-Marie Burt, WOLA Senior Fellow in The Associated Press.
“What is clear is that this impeachment effort will not be the last of Peru’s political turmoil. While the politicians argue, the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. The economic crisis means more and more people are going to bed hungry each night. ” - Jo-Marie Burt, WOLA Senior Fellow in Americas Quarterly.
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Beyond the Wall Campaign Update
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There’s so much happening at the U.S.-Mexico border—much of it outrageous, some of it heroic—that it’s hard to keep track. With this series of weekly updates, WOLA seeks to cover the most important developments in 800 words or less. This is a trial run: we are producing updates between Labor Day and Election Day, then evaluating their usefulness. We welcome your feedback.
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Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Assistant
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected]
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