Program areas at WOLA
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 2022, in an effort to adapt our advocacy to the pressing and novel challenges that have emerged in recent times, Wola began developing a model of analysis and advocacy that incorporates urgent and interconnecting issues. Staff began conceptualizing what these issues might be (issues such as democracy and gender) and how they can be intentionally incorporated into our work.
Columbia - the colombia program continued focusing their efforts throughout 2022 on ensuring movement forward on an inclusive peace in colombia. These efforts culminated in an exciting development in the fall: in october, the united states became the first international accompanier to the ethnic chapter of the 2016 colombia peace accord. Since this development, Wola has been diligently monitoring the advancement of this process. The colombia program was also attentive to the government transition of the petro-marquez administration and its appointees. Staff continued to observe and analyze the administration's ability to follow-through on promises regarding peace efforts, human rights, the protections of activists and social leaders, drug policy, and extraditions throughout 2022.
Border security, migration, mexico - 2022 proved an extremely active year for the border security, migration, and mexico programs. As migration towards the united states reached unexpected numbers alongside the impending end of title 42, the three programs focused on understanding the human rights implications of this situation. Early in 2022, the border security program launched its border oversight database, a groundbreaking tool that details reports and credible allegations of abuses committed by border patrol agents and customs and border protection officers since 2020. In the lead up to the summit of the americas, the migration program worked to develop a set of guiding principles for a regional framework on migration and protection in the americas. These principles were the basis for a series of meetings with congressional staff and national security council (nsc) officials to discuss summit activities and the los angeles. The mexico program published the tapachula report highlighting asylum seekers' experiences and migrant rights violations perpetrated by the mexican government. The mexico program also continued its vigilance and reporting on egregious civil liberties and human rights abuses, including the increasing number of disappearances, taking place under the current administration.
Venezuela - Wola's venezuela program focused on raising awareness of the devastating humanitarian emergency unfolding in venezuela throughout 2022. Wola joined with venezuelan and international partners to push for the renewal of the un fact-finding mission on venezuela, composed of a group of independent experts which has been essential in pushing for accountability and investigation into grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the country. The renewal of the mission was achieved in october. Another priority for the program was the continued push for the resumption of government negotiations within the country. As negotiations resumed during the fall of 2022, Wola supported an effort to bring civil society voices to the negotiations, calling for the creation of a civil society consultation mechanism. Program staff also continued publishing materials regarding these key issues, including a number of op-eds and an episode of the venezuela briefing podcast which featured perspectives from venezuelan human rights defenders and independent journalists.
Cuba - the cuba program focused its work in 2022 on uplifting the voice of the cuban people as they continue to face an increasingly severe humanitarian emergency, and to urge for productive u.s-cuba engagement. Throughout the year, staff organized numerous meetings between pertinent stakeholders and cuban delegations. These delegations ranged from groups of journalists to entrepreneurs. These meetings allowed for stakeholders, including government officials, to learn first-hand of the dire challenges and threats cuban citizens are facing. 2022 also marked a year of unprecedented migration of cuban nationals via the mexico-u.s. border. As the number of cubans arriving at the border reached over 28,000-the second-highest on record-during the fall, staff met with service providers and civil society organizations on the ground. Based on the information gathered and the circumstances viewed first-hand, staff returned to dc with a robust advocacy strategy. This strategy included highlighting to the administration the importance of addressing the root causes of increased cuban migration-chiefly the dire economic crisis which could be partially alleviated by resuming formal transfers of remittances.
Drug policy, women and incarceration - Wola supports drug policy reforms throughout the americas, and around the world that emphasize the centrality of human rights, public health, citizen security, harm reduction, and evidence-driven policy. Throughout 2022, Wola's drug policy program continued its advocacy against a prohibitionist approach to drug policy. Through consistent participation in forums and spaces of discussion on the current drug treaty regime, Wola's expertise on the issue has shed light on the dangers and inefficiencies of current policy towards drugs and has praised policy shifts, including the biden-harris harm-reduction drug policy model. This expertise and analysis was disseminated via a july 2022 report titled "loosening drug prohibition's lethal grip on the americas." Wola has also been collaborating with policymakers on the hill to push for the de-scheduling of cannabis. Throughout 2022, the women and incarceration program work focused on gathering first-hand information of incarcerated women's stories and experiences, and uplifting the voices of champions for this population.
Central America - the central America program focused on vigilance and analysis of the deteriorating state of rule of law in the region as well as increasing corruption and authoritarian trends. The program spearheaded several public and closed-door efforts to publicize concerns about the rapid deterioration of the rule of law in guatemala. Wola's concentrated efforts to fight corruption and impunity in honduras, included a number of meetings with government officials, civil society organizations, donors, and other actors to discuss honduras' human rights and corruption challenges. Wola has also used key moments in honduras, like the beginning of the supreme court election process and the one year anniversary of castro's presidency, to highlight current challenges facing the country. Staff also focused on reporting the growing authoritarian behavior of leaders in el salvador, and calling for a stronger u.s. Response to anti-democratic policies. Wola also continued publishing critical analysis through its central America monitor, an innovative tool to monitor foreign assistance and progress toward rule of law in the region.
Defense oversight - Wola challenged the expanding role of the military in foreign and domestic policymaking across the region. We supported accountable civilian control of defense forces, a clear separation between police and military functions, and peaceful collaboration to reduce threats and resolve conflicts.