** Latin America in Review:
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In the last week of April, a since-withdrawn tax reform proposal from the Duque administration led to mass protests by Colombian civil society. The protests were largely peaceful, and were met with brutal, deadly repression by militarized police. Colombians are marching for a vision of a country where all are cared for, all are safe, and those who are most in need can access badly needed social support. Learn more about how you can support ([link removed]) Colombians in this fight for transformational change.

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


** Turmoil in Colombia
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For more context on the violence against civil society happening in Colombia right now against civil society, here are a few of WOLA's latest resources:

🎧 Understanding Colombia’s Latest Wave of Social Protest (Latin America Today Podcast ([link removed]) )
📰 Colombia Is in Turmoil. Biden Must Push It Toward Dialogue. (NY Times opinion piece by Adam Isacson ([link removed]) )
🇨🇴 Colombian Lives are at Stake, U.S. Can Remain Silent No Longer (WOLA Statement) ([link removed])
🚨 Police Violence in Colombia is Unacceptable, U.S. Policymakers Must Take Action (WOLA Statement ([link removed]) )


** Our Partners in Action
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** Colombia Activists Emphasize Urgent Need to Support the Work of Social Leaders
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Social leaders featured in WOLA's #ConLideresHayPaz documentary podcast series joined us to describe how government neglect and armed violence are unraveling Colombia’s fragile peace.

Listen to the podcast ([link removed]) and join the campaign here ([link removed]) .

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** Civil Society Secures Key Reforms of Venezuela's Top Electoral Body
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Foro Cívico, a coalition of civil society groups, helped ensure that Venezuela's top electoral authority underwent important reforms, the first step in a difficult journey back to restoring democracy.

Read their statement here ([link removed]) .


** WOLA in Action
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A Way Forward for Drug Policy Reform and UN Treaties
WOLA Director for Drug Policy John Walsh addressed the UN's main drug policymaking body, emphasizing that while an increased number of countries are legalizing and regulating cannabis, putting them at odds with UN drug control treaties, there are ways forward for accommodating these changes. Watch Walsh's statement above or read the transcript here ([link removed]) .
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** Recent Podcasts
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** More From Our Experts
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UPTICK IN CUBAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS: Cuba’s economic woes may fuel America’s next migrant crisis ([link removed]) (published in The Conversation)

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND MIGRATION: To Address Root Causes Of Migration, Central America Expert Says Longterm Plan Needed ([link removed]) (Interview on All Things Considered, NPR)


** WOLA in the News
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"All these recent movement points to Maduro trying to get Washington’s attention... The question is whether the White House is ready to commit to a full-fledged negotiations strategy, or whether it will continue to play it safe and keep the policy on the back burner.” - Geoff Ramsey, Director for Venezuela, in the Associated Press. ([link removed])

"People are very unhappy about rising insecurity, the massacres, the killing of social leaders, basically the overall repression and the lack of separation in terms of the balance of power due to the friendships between the different institutions in Colombia. All of that is leading to a tremendous discontent of governing ability with Duque.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera. ([link removed])

"What we would hope to avoid is any perception that increased access to lifesaving vaccines in Central America is in exchange for increased tightening of border security." - Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs, in the Associated Press. ([link removed])

"[Elites in Central America are] increasingly colluded with criminal groups... [This] has translated into an inability to provide basic services, invest in education, health care, and respond to emergencies when disaster strikes." - Adriana Beltrán, Director for Citizen Security, in The Hill ([link removed]) .

"This isn’t a dynastic transition — [Cuba's] new leadership, though shaped by the Castro brothers and their legacy, are the next generation of the Cuban Communist Party, not the next generation of the Castro family." - Geoff Thale, President, in The Hill ([link removed]) .

"While Colombia and Venezuela fight over what these operations are about and put the blame on each other, what we are seeing are thousands of Venezuelans desperately fleeing into precarious conflict regions of Colombia, in the middle of a pandemic, to areas that are ill-equipped to take care of them." - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera ([link removed]) .


** WOLA Campaign Updates
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Visit the Central America Monitor website ([link removed]) for updated data and new reports.

Sign up here ([link removed]) for weekly border and migration updates from our experts. Read our past updates here ([link removed]) .

Stay updated on the Con Líderes Hay Paz ([link removed]) campaign by signing up ([link removed]) for our campaign newsletters or follow the #ConLíderesHayPaz hashtag on social media.


** Upcoming Events
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Addressing the global crisis of mass incarceration of women: Options for drug policy reform at times of COVID-19
8:10 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. EDT Thursday, May 20, 2021
Register here ([link removed])
All Events ([link removed])
Ways to give ([link removed])
Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Associate
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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