WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA INC
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Mission Statement
WOLA is a leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights in the Americas. WOLA envisions a future where public policies in the Americas protect human rights and recognize human dignity, and where justice overcomes violence.
About This Cause
WOLA’s mission is to advance human rights and social justice in the Americas through research and advocacy. WOLA tackles problems that transcend borders and that require both domestic and international solutions. Through strategic collaborations, we partner with courageous people working on social change—advocacy organizations, academics, religious leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and government officials—and together, we advocate for more just societies in the Americas. The inspiration for WOLA began with a brutal military coup. On September 11, 1973, General Augusto Pinochet overthrew the democratically elected government of Chile. Shortly thereafter, WOLA was founded by people who had experience living and working in Latin America and were determined to tell the truth about what was happening – not just in Chile but also in repressive regimes that dominated much of the region throughout the era. WOLA’s unique mission was to connect policy-makers in Washington with witnesses who had first-hand knowledge of the thousands of deaths, disappearances, cases of torture, and unjust imprisonment that was happening under the dictatorships. Our role was not to “represent” Latin Americans but to give them access in the United States to those making the policies that had such a profound impact on their lives. This vital collaboration with partners in the region became the hallmark of WOLA’s work. Over the decades, the challenges in Latin America have changed. Democracies have replaced dictatorships. New issues dominate the news – such as the U.S.-backed war on drugs, the rise of organized crime, increasing rates of violence, and concerns about migration and border security. WOLA continues to be at the forefront throughout the hemisphere pioneering new approaches to advance human rights and end violence for more just societies in the Americas. WOLA's wide-ranging programs span the hemisphere and take an interdisciplinary approach. On Brazil, WOLA is connecting Brazilian experts, activists, and government officials with others in the region to share ideas, experiences, and practical solutions to human rights challenges. In Colombia WOLA advocates for a negotiated end to the conflict, a shift away from U.S. military assistance, and for human rights and social justice policies that are essential for a lasting peace. WOLA's Cuba Program advocates for policies of engagement to continue to open up trade, travel and diplomatic cooperation, and improved human rights on the island. On Mexico, WOLA works to expose the causes of violence on the border and elsewhere, and to address the lack of development that fuels migration. We monitor U.S. security assistance to Mexico, seeking to steer funding priorities toward reform for an effective legal system, police that citizens can trust, and security officers who are held responsible for their actions. WOLA provides support to Mexican organizations seeking justice for victims who have faced human rights violations. In Central America WOLA works with colleagues in Central America and the international community to prevent violence, support police reform and combat organized crime. We monitor the impact of assistance and trade agreements on labor rights and sustainable economic development. We support on-going efforts to establish the conditions for free and fair elections and to bring justice for human rights violations. On Venezuela WOLA hosts the authoritative blog Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights, a unique resource for journalists, policymakers, scholars, activists and others interested in understanding Venezuelan politics and human rights. WOLA also runs several thematic programs, including: Citizen Security: WOLA works for comprehensive reform that addresses the root causes of violence and ensures effective, accountable police and judicial systems. With partners in the region, we advocate reforms that protect both the rights and the security of citizens. Drug Policy: WOLA advocates reducing the harms caused by both the drug trade and by the misguided war on drugs. Across the hemisphere, we work for drug reforms that protect human rights and public health. Migration and Border Security: WOLA monitors the security situation along the U.S.-Mexico border, overseeing the U.S. security presence and exposing the border buildup’s often unseen consequences and costs. We work to increase awareness about dangerous U.S. deportation practices, the large number of migrants who die in the desert, and the challenges faced by local and state authorities in the identification and preservation of remains. We propose policy alternatives that will protect migrants’ rights, prevent deaths, and ensure that efforts to enhance border security are measured against the reality of the situation on the ground. At the same time, WOLA works to help address cross-border gun trafficking that fuels drug-related violence in Mexico. Regional Security: WOLA challenges the expanding role of the military in foreign and domestic policy making. We support accountable civilian control of defense forces, a clear separation between police and military functions, and peaceful collaboration to reduce threats and resolve conflicts.