Peruvians defend their democracy, the transition from Trump to Biden admins, and more


** Latin America in Review:
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With the results of the U.S. presidential elections, opportunities abound for curbing the worst abuses of the Trump presidency and reimagining U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. After two record-breaking hurricanes hit Central America in two weeks—gravely impacting countries already dealing with weak infrastructure, systemic corruption, COVID-19, and pre-existing humanitarian needs—it will be especially critical for the incoming Biden administration to seek out ways to address an inevitable surge in migration in the region. Elsewhere in the hemisphere, mass peaceful protests were met with violence in Peru, after a coalition of political parties engineered an illegitimate takeover of the presidency, seeking in part to shield themselves from anti-corruption reforms. The turmoil eventually resulted in the selection of Francisco Sagasti as Peru's new interim president.

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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Colombian Social Leaders Win National Human Rights Awards
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We extend our congratulations to Leyner Palacios and Marino Córdoba Berrio who were honored with the National Award for Defense of Human Rights in Colombia ([link removed]) , presented by Swedish humanitarian agency Diakonia and the Church of Sweden. Thank you for your tireless fight for human rights, the defense of life, and the building of peace in Colombia!


** WOLA in Action
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The Venezuela Briefing is a new WOLA podcast that aims to explore various aspects of Venezuela's political, humanitarian, and migratory crisis, and the prospects for change. Listen to the first episode ([link removed]) about the challenges facing those seeking to provide humanitarian services, featuring Feliciano Reyna of Venezuelan NGO Acción Solidaria.

It's a complex moment for U.S.-Latin America relations. Our latest Latin America Today podcast series, The Transition, explores likely major shifts between the Trump and Biden administrations, including migration, anti-corruption efforts, and multilateral cooperation. Listen to parts one ([link removed]) , two ([link removed]) , and three ([link removed]) .

A supermajority of Peru’s Congress voted on November 9 to force out President Martín Vizcarra on grounds of “moral incapacity.” WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt joined Latin America Today to discuss what happened in Peru as street protests gathered momentum in Lima.

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** From Our Experts
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In a new report, humanitarian experts Vanessa Cartaya and Feliciano Reyna, alongside WOLA Director for Venezuela Geoff Ramsey explain the scale of Venezuela's humanitarian crisis, the responses of Venezuelan civil society and international actors, and the challenges faced by the institutions and networks that provide humanitarian services in the country. Read the report in Spanish ([link removed]) or the summary in English ([link removed]) .

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Across Latin America, the population of women in prison is exploding because of punitive drug laws that disproportionately affect women. Data compiled in a new WOLA report found that in several countries, the proportion of women prisoners who are incarcerated for drug offenses is at least 30 percent higher than in the case of men. This mass incarceration is devastating communities in situations of vulnerability across the region. Read more here ([link removed]) .

FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN MEXICO: Mexico Faces a Test for its Anti-Corruption and Justice Reform Efforts ([link removed]) .

CENTRAL AMERICA'S CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTERS: Hurricane Eta Wreaks Havoc, Leaving Central America in Urgent Need of Humanitarian Assistance ([link removed]) .

HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA: Colombia’s Female Social Leaders, LGBT+, and Land Rights Activists At Risk ([link removed]) .

PERU'S NEW PRESIDENT: Can Francisco Sagasti Hold Peru Together? ([link removed])
Visit the CAM website for updated data and new reports.
Central America Monitor ([link removed])


** WOLA in the News
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Venezuela:
“Part of the problem is that the military has received the wrong signals in the last years, with no assurances of the preservation of economic incentives... The idea until now — ‘You guys do the hard work toppling Maduro and then we’ll talk’ — hasn’t worked.” - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in BloombergQuint ([link removed]) .

"The reality is, [Venezuelan migrants] are going to continue to come no matter what... My concern is, increasingly, we’re going to see countries simply wash their hands of them." - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in World Politics Review ([link removed]) .

Colombia:
“You can’t separate Afro-Colombian and Indigenous leaders from environmental defenders, because in most of those situations it involves the defense of natural resources in addition to their land rights... Leaders have been threatened there, including Francia Márquez who got the Goldman Prize for the environment.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Vice ([link removed]) .

“Beyond promises, peace has not reached indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities whose leaders are killed and under threat and youth massacred by illegal groups. Unless Duque and his government turn this around quickly we will see the loss of a historical opportunity to change Colombia into a rights-respecting real democracy.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera ([link removed]) .

Peru:
“[The ouster of Peru's President Martín Vizcarra] generates a huge amount of uncertainty at a time when the economy is in a tailspin because of COVID and people are dying.” - Jo-Marie Burt, WOLA Senior Fellow, in Associated Press ([link removed]) .

Mexico:
“[In Mexico] you’ve had pretty much blanket impunity for human rights allegations and also for issues of corruption... Having an armed forces with that much power is really dangerous.” - Maureen Meyer for the ([link removed]) Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) .

“There is no one-size-fits-all legalizing solution. With Mexico, is this actually going to be an inclusive market shaped to the country's realities? Or will it be a market controlled by well-heeled, well-financed, well-connected corporations?” - John Walsh, Director for Drug Policy and the Andes, in ([link removed]) the Washington Post ([link removed]) .


** Beyond the Wall Campaign Update
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Support Beyond the Wall here ([link removed])


** Upcoming Events
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Coca and Eradication Four Years into Colombia’s “Post-Accord” Phase
1:30 p.m.. - 3:00 p.m. EST Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Event details ([link removed])

Afro-Descendant Rights in the Americas: The Perspective of Transnational Activists in the U.S. and the Region
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. EST Friday, December 11, 2020
Event Details ([link removed])

Las relaciones cívico-militares en América Latina después de nueve meses de pandemia
(This event will be in Spanish only)
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST Friday, December 11, 2020
Detalles del evento ([link removed])

Assessing Venezuela's National Assembly Elections
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST Friday, December 11, 2020
Event Details ([link removed])

All Events ([link removed])
Ways to give ([link removed])
Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Assistant
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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