Indigenous protests in Colombia, U.S. border agencies and staggering data, Trump's legacy in Latin America


** Latin America in Review:
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This past month, Indigenous communities in Colombia led a peaceful demonstration to Bogota to demand that the Duque administration take action toward implementing the 2016 peace accord, which includes protecting social leaders whose lives are in danger for defending peace. Back home, we've been tracking the humanitarian disaster at the border that has worsened during the Trump administration and how to address the cultural toxicity of U.S. border and migration enforcement agencies. Ahead of the U.S. election results this week, we took a look at the the consequences of nearly four years of failed U.S. Latin American policy and what needs to happen for a human rights-centered approach.

Learn more about our latest work by visiting our website ([link removed]) and following us on social media.


** Our Partners in Action
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**
New Report: El Vivir Sabroso Amenazado
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Black Communities Process (Proceso de Comunidades Negras, PCN) recently published a report documenting abuses against Afro-Colombian communities entitled Living Well While Under Threat. You can read the report here ([link removed]) , or watch a recap of our event in which the authors present their findings here ([link removed]) .


** WOLA in Action
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Based on a series of events hosted by WOLA in July and August 2020, this article assesses the impact of Trump administration policies on human rights and democracy in Latin America.
Read the article ([link removed])


** Webinars: If you missed one of our events this month, you can click below to watch them on YouTube.
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** From Our Experts
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** New Report Documents How U.S. Sanctions Have Directly Aggravated Venezuela's Economic Crisis
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A new WOLA report finds that, while Venezuela’s economic crisis began before the first U.S. sectoral sanctions were imposed in 2017, these measures “directly contributed to its deep decline, and to the further deterioration of the quality of life of Venezuelans.” Read the full report in Spanish here ([link removed]) or an English summary here ([link removed]) .

A HUMAN RIGHTS-CENTERED APPROACH TO THE REGION: Taking Stock of Trump's Legacy in Latin America ([link removed])

BROKEN INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE: Fixing a Culture that Protects and Rewards Abuse at U.S. Border Agencies ([link removed]) .

SOCIAL LEADERS UNDER ATTACK IN COLOMBIA: Assassination Attempt Against Indigenous Colombian Senator Underscores Need to Implement the Ethnic Chapter ([link removed]) .

CONSEQUENCES OF THE BORDER WALL: 400 Miles of Harm: There is Nothing to Celebrate about Border Wall Construction ([link removed]) .

NEW DATA FROM THE BORDER: What New Official Data Tells Us About the Ongoing Tragedy at the U.S.-Mexico border ([link removed]) .


** WOLA in the News
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Mexico:
“It’s a time when the president has put an enormous amount of trust and responsibility in the hands of the armed forces under the argument that they are more trustworthy and that it is the cleaner institution and yet what this case shows is corruption can go to any level.” - Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs and Director for Mexico and Migrant Rights, in The Associated Press. ([link removed])

Border:
“As migrants not seeking asylum tend to seek to avoid apprehension, we can expect more migrants to take very dangerous desert routes, where they’re at greater risk of death from dehydration and exposure on U.S. soil.” - Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, in The Washington Post. ([link removed])

Venezuela:
“While the food crisis didn’t begin with U.S. sanctions, there is certainly no way you can say that the sanctions are not aggravating things...We are very concerned that the country is on the edge of an irreversible catastrophe.” - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in The Wall Street Journal. ([link removed])

“While the U.S. government highlights the worsening humanitarian emergency inside the country, the White House has continued to send fleeing Venezuelans back to danger.” - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in The Los Angeles Times. ([link removed])

Colombia:
“Duque is not following through on the State’s promises made in the accord, so as a result Colombia is experiencing an alarming amount of violence...We have killings of activists, resurgence of massacres, displacements and armed groups acting with impunity. The government’s response is to deny, ignore, stick to their guns, stigmatize protestors and to meet [protests] with repression.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Vice News ([link removed]) .

“For the government, it appears from their lack of real action that these killings are just one more blemish in their public image they need to clean up. Those defending lands from illegal groups, unsustainable environmental practices and destruction of biodiversity are less important than the economic and political benefits such security and economic projects bring the elites.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera. ([link removed])

Bolivia:
“...that Bolivia’s incoming president is not a charismatic leader about whom there is no cult of personality is going to make governing more palatable for many Bolivians who are not yet ready, the day after, to reconcile themselves to the fact that the MAS, whom they’d thought they’d evicted from power forever, is now coming back.” - John Walsh, ([link removed]) Director for Drug Policy and the Andes, in The Washington Post. ([link removed])


** Beyond the Wall Campaign Update
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Listen to the latest episode of Beyond the Wall here ([link removed])


** Upcoming Events
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Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Assistant
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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