Dear John,                              

This week, we analyze the impact of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's proposed militarization Bill, which will will deepen and make permanent a model that has failed to improve security for more than 15 years.

We also take a look back at some of the stories we published over recent months, including an interview where we examine the rise of authoritarianism across the Americas, its many forms and consequences as well as the efforts of great activists working to tackle it.

Finally, it's only two weeks until our Human Rights Award Ceremony and Benefit Gala, were we will honor four courageous individuals fighting to make human rights and justice a reality for all. Want to join us? Please find more details here.

Best, 

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

President, WOLA

• 🇲🇽 A new Militarization Bill can prove dangerous for Mexico's security, this is how. 
• 💡 Want to learn more about migration in the Americas? Check out our explainer from May.
• 🎤 In an in-depth interview, published in June, WOLA's president, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval reflected on the rise of authoritarianism in the Americas, its features and consequences.
• 📖 Democracy is under fire in large parts of the Americas. WOLA's Director for Central America, Ana María Méndez-Dardón, provides some fascinating insights on the situation in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in this July interview.  
• ✍️ The U.S. is starting to incorporate harm reduction strategies in its drug policy at home, but abroad it is still promoting the harmful "war on drugs" paradigm. Read more about the impact of this disconnect in our September report.

The three installments of WOLA's 2021 series on disappearances use official data to explore how Mexico’s flagship General Law against disappearances remains under-applied in criminal investigations, leaving thousands of families without justice.

"The real test [on Ayotzinapa] will be whether convictions can be secured, how the government will move forward with the information it obtains to provide answers to the students’ families and how its efforts can translate to advances in addressing the more than 100,000 disappearances in the country." 

–The Latin American Advisor

Maureen Meyer

Vice President for Programs

WOLA is seeking a Program Assistant! We are looking for an administrative, entry-level professional to support two directors and their programs with a variety of tasks, including: event planning, clerical duties, database management, webinar and in-person meeting support, and other logistical support. Learn more here.

WOLA’s 2022 Human Rights Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala on September 21 is less than two weeks away! Join us for a night to remember as we honor courageous individuals who have worked tirelessly to promote human rights, democracy, and justice in Latin America.

Copyright © 2022 Washington Office on Latin America, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are signed up to the WOLA mailing list.

WOLA
1666 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 400, DC 20009
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.