Dear John,

This month marks the 8th year anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students of the Ayotzinapa case in which Mexican security forces and criminal actors forcibly disappeared 43 teaching students in Iguala, Guerrero—part of a disappearance crisis with over 105,000 victims. Recent developments, including the resignation of the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, call into question the case’s future and the possibilities for the long-awaited truth and justice for the students’ families.

As president Bukele continues to undermine democracy in El Salvador, we published this statement that WOLA's Director for Central America Ana María Méndez-Dardón submitted to the U.S. House of Representative’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on the State of Exception in El Salvador.

Also this week, WOLA’s President Carolina Jiménez Sandoval and WOLA's Director for the Andes Gimena Sánchez Garzoli are traveling to Brazil as members of an international human rights commission that will monitor elections in Brazil at a time when there have been attacks against democratic institutions and efforts to cast doubt on the electoral system itself.

All that, and much more, in this Weekly WOLA.

Warmly,

Maureen Meyer,

Vice President for Programs

• Take a look at our Resource Page: Analysis and Information on Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case. You can also read this commentary for more context on the recent developments of the case that lead to the resignation of the special prosecutor.

• Here is a list of recent human rights incidents during Colombia's presidential transition. In addition to addressing the protection of social leaders and civilians, a robust implementation of the 2016 Peace Accord is required.
• A state of exception is a legal mechanism used to address emergency situations and must be eminently temporary and extraordinary. However, President Nayib Bukele has governed El Salvador under this state since March 2022. Learn more in this recent statement.
  
• With this statement, WOLA joins Venezuela's FFM in calling for effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all those implicated in the human rights violations and crimes against humanity alleged in the report, and supports its renewal.

The resignation of Special Prosecutor for Ayotzinapa Omar Gómez Trejo’s resignation was “clearly a reaction to the fact that his office has been sidelined,” said WOLA's Director for Mexico Stephanie Brewer to The Washington Post.

WOLA is seeking a Communications 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.

It’s not too late to make a gift in honor of the work of all of our honorees at this year’s 2022 WOLA Human Rights Awards and Benefit Gala. As you’ve read, each one of them faces tremendous odds and opposition to their fight for justice and equality. We know that you value their work, so what better way to salute their perseverance with a donation to WOLA in their honor? We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

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