The past month was packed with key moments for both policymakers and civil society in the region.

This edition of our monthly newsletter covers WOLA’s programmatic work and regional events from February to early March 2022.


** Latin America in Review:
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Colombia held congressional elections on March 13, and 167 municipalities with a concentrated representative population of some of the country’s over 9 million victims, saw the historic opportunity to vote for candidates to represent them in the Congress. However, as WOLA warned ([link removed]) before the elections, paramilitary structures and traditional parties managed to co-opt ([link removed]) some of these spaces. WOLA also continued monitoring ([link removed]) the growing humanitarian crises in Colombia, including violence against Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities in Chocó and the stigmatization by government officials against a local bishop denouncing the situation.

Following the U.S. administration officials’ visit to Venezuela in early March, there have been a few important developments in bilateral relations, and the Biden administration has emphasized that sanctions relief will be based on “meaningful progress” in the framework of the Mexico City negotiations.

International Women’s Day on March 8 was an opportunity ([link removed]) to remember the many obstacles that still remain to achieve gender equality in most Latin American countries, but especially in the Northern Triangle, where gender-based violence and impunity force many to flee their homes and even leave their countries in an attempt to reach other countries, including the United States.

The Biden administration hit a devastating and stunning milestone ([link removed]) February 17. Aboard the 198th flight deporting or expelling people to Haiti that morning was the 20,000th migrant sent back to the Caribbean nation since inauguration.

Stay up to date with our expert programming by visiting our website ([link removed]) and following us onTwitter ([link removed]) , Linked In ([link removed]) , Instagram ([link removed]) and Facebook ([link removed]) .


** WOLA in Action:
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** Our Partners in Action:
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International Organizations Demand Publicity and Announce Observation of Guatemalan Judge Erika Aifan’s Deposition Hearing Before the Investigating Judge

Read the joint statement here ([link removed]) .

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U.S. Civil Society Organizations Urge U.S. Government to Push for Serious Police Reform in Colombia

Read the joint statement here ([link removed]) .


** More from our experts:
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- A PRESSING AGENDA FOR THE DUQUE-BIDEN MEETING, IN FOUR ISSUES ([link removed])

- VICTIM SEATS IN CONGRESS COULD HELP ADVANCE PEACE IN COLOMBIA ([link removed])

- LITTLE TO CELEBRATE: 5 FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND VIOLENCE IN EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, AND HONDURAS ([link removed])

- UNDERSTANDING THE FAILURE OF THE U.S. EMBARGO ON CUBA ([link removed])


** WOLA in the News
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What’s at Stake in Colombia’s Legislative Vote?

“For the first time, the representatives of the peace seats will be determined. The priority issues are security, corruption, tax reform and the best way forward economically after the hits of the pandemic. The security situation facing many candidates is concerning, in particular those in the conflict regions who are running for the peace seats. These elections will greatly determine whether the 2016 peace accord will finally be implemented seriously or whether Colombians want to return to violence as the best way to address differences” -Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, in The Dialogue ([link removed]) .

Nicaragua’s Ortega government puts the political opposition on trial

There is a clear lack of minimum standards of due process.“The trials are 'an attack on all types of dissidence' [...] We know these sentences aren’t pronounced by an independent justice system, but by the presidential couple.” -Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, President in The Washington Post ([link removed]) .


Venezuelan opposition faces fading enthusiasm

That’s because many believe he lacks a viable way to oust Maduro, who has held power since 2013. “Unless it’s somebody who’s just really enamored with Guaidó or somehow close to the opposition movement, it’s pretty hard to find people that think that this is the guy [...] Most everyone else thinks, ‘Well, this just led to nothing; nothing’s changed.’ And they’re going to remain passive until they see some kind of really different new offering”-Senior Fellow David Smilde in The Washington Post ([link removed]) .

Imperfect Justice Is Still Justice for Wartime Rape Survivors in Guatemala
"This is a victory, yes. But legal victories go only so far. Pedrina says she is satisfied with the verdict, but she still experiences physical pain and post-traumatic stress. 'My childhood was robbed from me,' she says. ´Nothing can erase the memory of what I endured.´"- Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt & Paulo Estrada in El Faro ([link removed]) .


** Recent events:
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The situation in Venezuela represents one of the biggest challenges to democracy and human rights in the Americas, as well as a devastating humanitarian emergency. In spite of the challenges faced by civil society, Venezuelans continue to find creative and innovative ways to mobilize for democratic change and to fulfill their fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Watch this event here ([link removed]) .

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Fifty years after U.S. President Richard Nixon declared an “all-out offensive,” the drug war has exacted an incalculable toll on the region and its people. Watch the sixth and final installment in a webinar series examining the consequences of prohibition and the drug war for Latin America and the Caribbean here ([link removed]) .


** 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:
Kimberly Durón
Assistant Director for Content Production
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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