** Latin America in Review:
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In July, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in unprecedented demonstrations, amidst a humanitarian crisis made worse by U.S. sanctions. While the Cuban government must refrain from repression and respect the right to protest, this is also a moment for the Biden administration to more fully commit to a policy of engagement with Cuba—failure to do so only aggravates the suffering of the Cuban people. This summer also marks the 50th anniversary of President Nixon declaring a "war on drugs," which has proven to be particularly disastrous for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. To explore its consequences, WOLA launched a new series of virtual events: "Decades of Damage Done: The Drug War Catastrophe in Latin America and the Caribbean."

Meanwhile, as border shutdown policies continue to leave asylum seekers with few options for petitioning for protection in the United States in a legal and orderly way, WOLA experts traveled ([link removed]) to the U.S.-Mexico border to meet with partners and other activists on the ground. (Sign up for weekly updates about the U.S.-Mexico border here ([link removed]) ).

You can learn more about our latest work by visiting our website ([link removed]) and following us on social media.
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**
Our Partners in Action
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**
A Conversation With the Venezuela Civil Society Coalition Pushing for Peaceful, Negotiated Solutions to the Country's Crisis
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The Civic Forum is a coalition of civil society groups—including academic, business, and human rights organizations, faith groups and labor unions—pushing for a peaceful recovery of Venezuela's democratic institutions.

From July 26 to 30, representatives met with stakeholders in D.C. and presented proposals for confronting Venezuela's political and humanitarian crisis. Watch a public roundtable ([link removed]) (Spanish), hosted by WOLA, to hear from them directly about defending human rights and the conditions needed for fair elections in Venezuela.


** WOLA in Action
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** 🎙 Recent Podcasts 🎙
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** More From Our Experts
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FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND EXPOSING IMPUNITY: Central America’s Private Sector Plays a Big Role in Corruption, Too ([link removed]) (World Politics Review article)

DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING IN EL SALVADOR: Bukele Administration Risks Politicizing El Salvador’s Anti-Corruption Fight ([link removed])

MEXICO & JUSTICE: Putting Justice to a Vote? Q&A on Mexico’s August 1 Referendum ([link removed])

PERU'S DEMOCRACY IMPERILED: Peru Has a New President, But Fujimori’s Election Lie Imperils Democracy ([link removed])

STATEMENT ON HAITI: Assassination of Haiti President a Deplorable Act of Violence ([link removed])

U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS: Biden’s Cuba Policy is Stuck on Trump’s Autopilot ([link removed]) (Responsible Statecraft article)


** WOLA in the News
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“But Keiko Fujimori and her supporters are not simply copying the Trump playbook, [she] is drawing on and deploying the lessons she learned at the feet of her father, Alberto Fujimori, Peru’s last dictator." - Jo-Marie Burt, WOLA senior fellow in the Guardian ([link removed]) .

“AMLO to his credit recognises he has got to change course [from hardline past approaches to organised crime]. But where the Mexican federal government does seem to be giving up is on the strategies—building capable, civilian police forces and strengthening criminal investigations. If criminal groups can continue to operate with impunity, that will continue to be a huge driver of violence.” - Stephanie Brewer, Director for Mexico in The Financial Times ([link removed]) .

[On Colombian mercenaries found being involved in assassination of Haitian president] "The U.S. military pioneered this trend [of using private contractors] in Colombia even before the Iraq and Afghanistan wars made the issue well-known globally. As part of the drug wars in Colombia, they began hiring outsiders and private companies to fulfill military roles.” - Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, in World Politics Review ([link removed]) .

“[The Duque administration] has been blaming the opposition, blaming everybody and not looking inward… I think [the IACHR report condemning Colombia’s use of “excessive and disproportionate force during mass protests”] shows that attitude is not what the international community accepts.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes in Al jazeera ([link removed]) .

“Congress’ call for the report reflects growing concern 'about the level of systemic corruption in the countries of the Northern Triangle, the significant backsliding that we’ve seen across the region in the last several years,' and the need to 'ensure that our assistance is not ending up in the pockets of corrupt officials or their allies.'” - Adriana Beltran, Director for Citizen Security in the Associated Press ([link removed] ) .


** WOLA Campaign Updates
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🇨🇴 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.

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

🔍 Visit the Central America Monitor website ([link removed]) for updated data and new reports.


** Upcoming Events
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Join our second installment in the event series: Decades of Damage Done ([link removed]) :
The Drug War Catastrophe in Latin America and the Caribbean

Vicious Cycle: Forced Crop Eradication and the Never-Ending War on Drugs
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT Thursday, August 5, 2021
Register here ([link removed])

View all upcoming and past events hosted by WOLA on our website or by subscribing to our newsletter.
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Ways to give ([link removed])
Contact:
Gabriela Sibori
Communications Associate
+1 (202) 797-2171
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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