** Latin America in Review:
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(WOLA's Latin America in Review took a brief pause for the month of August. This double feature newsletter will include events from August and September.)
Recent images of cruelty and chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border underscored how the United States fundamentally doesn't have the systems in place to deal with our new reality of migration. But it doesn't have to be this way—the U.S. government can build the infrastructure needed so that what we see at the border is compassion, order, and dignity ([link removed]) .

As WOLA's new president, Carolina Jiménez, said in remarks during the 2021 WOLA Human Rights Awards Ceremony, "We will not be silenced in the face of these human rights abuses. On the contrary, we are called to action."

This is a critical time to follow this call to action, and to uplift our values around social justice and human rights. WOLA honored champions of these values at our annual WOLA Human Rights Awards Ceremony, joining together with a virtual community in D.C., Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, and beyond. We're grateful to everyone who supports WOLA's mission and who believe, like we do, that a better future for our hemisphere—one rooted in true justice and human rights—is possible.

You can learn more about our latest work by visiting our website ([link removed]) and following us on social media.
Last week we held our virtual 2021 WOLA Human Rights Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala, where we honored the incredible work of the Ethnic Working Group of Colombia’s Truth Commission, Representative Barbara Lee (D-California), and Fundación Mi Sangre.

If you missed the live ceremony, you can now watch it on our YouTube page!
Watch now ([link removed])


** Our Partners in Action:
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This month, we'd like to celebrate our 2021 WOLA Human Rights Awardees, whose tremendous work in defending human rights, peace, and social justice is paving the way for social change in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Visit our gala website ([link removed]) to learn more about their courageous work.
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** Ethnic Working Group of Colombia's Truth Commission ([link removed])
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** Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) ([link removed])
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** Fundación Mi Sangre ([link removed])
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** WOLA in Action:
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Nearly 6 million have fled Venezuela’s crisis in recent years, sparking the largest mass displacement in the hemisphere’s recent history. Serious gaps remain in the hemispheric response to Venezuelan migrants and refugees. Through #StandFor6Million, WOLA is featuring the work of civil society organizations across Latin America to identify gaps in their governments’ responses to fleeing Venezuelans and work to address the needs of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in their host countries.

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According to government data, approximately 25,000 people were disappeared in Mexico from 2018 to mid-2021. Despite these harrowing numbers, authorities often fail to investigate disappearances under Mexico's landmark anti-disappearance law. In this series, WOLA uses official data, obtained through information requests and consultation of public databases, to explore how Mexico’s flagship law to address its historic disappearance crisis remains under-applied in criminal investigations throughout the country.

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** ▶️ Watch ▶️
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** Welcoming Dr. Carolina Jiménez, WOLA's new president
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Carolina Jiménez Sandoval inaugurates a new era of leadership as she assumes the position of President of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). She brings to WOLA over 20 years of experience in research and advocacy for human rights in the Americas and throughout the world. As a leader in the field who has worked extensively throughout the region and in Washington, she is poised to guide WOLA’s team to an even greater strategic impact for social justice and human rights.

You can read Dr. Jiménez's full bio here ([link removed]) , and watch her video in Spanish here ([link removed]) .
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** Inside Out From Women’s Prisons: Resisting Punitive Drug Policies
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This video, brought to you by International Drug Policy Consortium, WOLA, and Women and Harm Reduction International Network, features formerly incarcerated women discussing their advocacy efforts to promote inspiring and forward-looking options for reform, support for women in prison, and mobilize for change.

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** Support Their Work. Protect Their lives.
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Human rights defenders, especially Black and Indigenous leaders, are leading the fight for transformative change in Colombia. But their lives are at risk every day. Together, we can support their visions for peace and help build a more peaceful, equitable Colombia. Video produced by WOLA and Oro Taller ([link removed]) .


** 🎙 Recent Podcasts 🎙
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Listen now ([link removed])


** More From Our Experts
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#STANDFOR6MILLION: How Regional Civil Society Organizations are Showing Solidarity with Fleeing Venezuelans ([link removed])
INVESTIGATIONS OF MEXICO DISAPPEARANCES: Seventh Anniversary of the Ayotzinapa Disappearances in Mexico: Advances and Challenges in the Search for Truth and Justice ([link removed])

MIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY: Mexico Must Cease Violence Against Migrants and Offer Solutions to Avert Asylum Crisis at its Southern Border ([link removed])

TACKLING CORRUPTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA: Assault on Guatemala’s Justice System Intensifies With Expulsion of Anti-Corruption Prosecutor ([link removed])

ORTEGA’S REPRESSION IN NICARAGUA:Ortega Government’s Authoritarian Crackdown Seeks to Repress All Dissent ([link removed])

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON CENTRAL AMERICA: Climate Change Disasters Point to Urgent Need to Protect Climate Refugees ([link removed])


** WOLA in the News
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“Unless the international community really pushes the peace accord – on its fifth anniversary – and relaunches its implementation, and forces whichever government’s in power in Colombia to take that seriously, we’re just going to see an increase in these kinds of killings.” - Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in Al Jazeera ([link removed]) .

“Families [in Mexico] have the right to be involved in the investigation and search... But that doesn't mean the state should be putting the burden of the investigation on the families, putting them at high risk." - Stephanie Brewer, Director for Mexico and Migrant Rights, in Deutsche Welle ([link removed]) .

“[Adam Isacson] said the rise in migration from beyond Central America is largely driven by the pandemic and its fallout, including continuing Covid-19 restrictions across the region.” - Adam Isacson, Director of Defense Oversight, in The Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) .

“Uno de los daños “más atroces causados por la guerra contra las drogas es el aumento dramático” de personas en prisión en América Latina… mientras quienes más se benefician del comercio de las drogas ‘rara vez están tras las rejas’, las mujeres, personas negras, indígenas ‘y otros que se enfrentan a desigualdades sistemáticas, son los grupos que sufren los efectos de manera desproporcionada’.” - Coletta Youngers, WOLA Senior Fellow, in La Jornada ([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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View all upcoming and past events hosted by WOLA on our website or by subscribing to our newsletter.
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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