WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA

HUMAN RIGHTS - WOLA IS A LEADING RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ADVANCING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAS. WE SEEK PUBLIC POLICIES THAT PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND RECOGNIZE HUMAN DIGNITY, SO JUSTICE MAY OVERCOME VIOLENCE. WOLA TACKLES PROBLEMS THAT TRANSCEND BORDERS AND REQUIRE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS. WE CREATE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH COURAGEOUS PEOPLE MAKING SOCIAL CHANGE-ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMICS, RELIGIOUS AND BUSINESS LEADERS, ARTISTS, AND POLICY MAKERS. TOGETHER, WE ADVOCATE FOR MORE JUST SOCIETIES IN THE AMERICAS. THROUGHOUT 2023, AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WOLA BEGAN A CRITICAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REVIEW OF OUR PROGRAMMING TO DETERMINE ADVOCACY PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

BORDER SECURITY, MIGRATION, MEXICO - IN 2023, WOLA'S BORDER SECURITY AND MIGRATION PROGRAMS HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICY REFORM AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. THEIR COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, "ABUSES AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: HOW TO ADDRESS FAILURES AND PROTECT RIGHTS," METICULOUSLY DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS BY U.S. BORDER LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROMPTING WIDESPREAD MEDIA COVERAGE AND SPARKING POLICY DEBATES. THIS EFFORT INCLUDED EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS AND CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES TO PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS WITHIN U.S. BORDER AGENCIES. THE MIGRATION PROGRAM ALSO CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE FIELD RESEARCH ALONG COLOMBIA'S BORDERS WITH PANAMA AND ECUADOR, CONDUCTING OVER 50 INTERVIEWS TO GATHER DATA ON MIGRATION DYNAMICS AND COLOMBIA'S CONFLICT LANDSCAPE. WOLA'S MEXICO EXPERTS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS, ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUED SEARCHES FOR THE DISAPPEARED, AND COMBAT ARBITRARY PRE-TRIAL DETENTION. WOLA PUBLISHED THE REPORT "MILITARIZED TRANSFORMATION AND A SUBSEQUENT PODCAST, WHICH EXAMINED THE INCREASING ROLES AND POWERS OF THE MILITARY IN MEXICO. THE REPORT WAS VERY WELL-RECEIVED AND DETAILED CURRENT LEVELS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY MILITARY FORCES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD, OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ESTABLISH CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE ARMED FORCES AND ENHANCE ACCESS TO SECURITY AND JUSTICE IN MEXICO.