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WOLA

@wola-org.bsky.social

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The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is a leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights in the Americas.

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WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Nov 20

Exciting news! WOLA is now on BlueSky! 🌎✨

Follow us for the latest analysis, updates, and news on human rights, democracy, and social justice across the Americas.

💬🌟 Stay connected and informed: www.wola.org

WOLA is a leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights in the Americas. We promote policies that protect human dignity and justice.

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

🎉 Human Rights Awards Month starts now! This October, we're honoring MOVIR of El Salvador and Senator Tim Kaine. Watch our launch video 👇
youtube.com/watch?v=ToLR...

And stay tuned!

#HumanRightsMonth #WOLA

Introducing WOLA's Human Rights Award Month 2025

YouTube video by WOLA: Washington Office on Latin America

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

7/ Congress and the public deserve clarity: the U.S. is not at war, neither international nor non-international. What’s at stake is respect for the law, accountability, and avoiding an unnecessary war.

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

6/ For Venezuela, this makes things worse: trapped between repression by an authoritarian regime at home and unauthorized use of force by the U.S. abroad. Both undermine the rule of law.

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

5/ Declaring a “war” on vague, shifting actors means conflict with no clear enemy, no clear objectives, no territorial limits, and no end in sight.

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

4/ Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions is clear: IHL applies to NIACs only when certain conditions are met. Venezuelan drug trafficking or criminal groups do not satisfy them.

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

3/ Under international humanitarian law (IHL), 2 key conditions for NIAC are missing:
a) The U.S. has not suffered an armed attack; intensity is absent.
b) Venezuelan criminal groups lack the command structure/capacity to be a party to armed conflict.
🔗 www.icrc.org/sites/defaul...

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

2/ Designating groups as “terrorist” doesn’t grant extra legal authority to use military force. And the legality of U.S. lethal strikes in the Caribbean has been widely questioned: www.justsecurity.org/120296/many-...

The Many Ways in Which the Caribbean Strike was Unlawful

Legal expert on domestic authority and law most relevant to the US strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat

www.justsecurity.org

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 5d

1/ Trump officials reportedly told Congress the U.S. is in a “non-international armed conflict” with “designated terrorist organizations.” Here’s why that’s wrong: the U.S. is not at war. 🧵

Reposted by WOLA

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 16d

My org, @wola-org.bsky.social, has fought since the 1970s to stop US aid to Latin American forces that violate human rights. Through the Dirty War, Iran-Contra, Plan Colombia.

But now, US forces are cutting out the middleman: violating human rights directly in the region. It's a horrendous shift.

Joshua Collins @murosinvisibles.bsky.social · 16d

A fourth boat bombed in international waters. Total death toll now 19

What I dont get is, if these boats are "carrying fentanyl" as Trump says (they absolutely arent. Even the DEA says VZ doesnt produce fentanyl), then why not seize one and show us?
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...

U.S. naval forces have sunk a fourth suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, Trump says

U.S. naval forces have conducted another lethal strike on a vessel President Donald Trump said was tied to a designated terrorist organization involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

www.miamiherald.com

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 19d

🚨 🇵🇪 URGENTE: WOLA junta a @cejil.bsky.social y @dplf-info.bsky.social alertan sobre la grave #criminalización del sistema de justicia en #Perú.

El Congreso y el Ejecutivo buscan neutralizar cualquier control sobre legislación que vulnera DDHH. Lee la declaración. 👇
www.wola.org/es/2025/09/p...

Perú: Criminalización del sistema de justicia exige acción internacional urgente - WOLA

Washington, D.C., 18 de septiembre. – Las organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos firmantes alertamos a la comunidad internacional acerca de...

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 22d

🏆 ¡Tenemos el honor de anunciar que el senador
@timkaine
es el segundo galardonado con el Premio de Derechos Humanos de WOLA 2025!

A lo largo de su distinguida carrera, el senador Kaine ha sido un firme defensor de la democracia y de los #DerechosHumanos. 🌎 🇺🇸

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 22d

🏆 ¡Nos es un honor anunciar que hemos reconocido al senador Tim Kaine como ganador del Premio de Derechos Humanos de WOLA de este año! 🇺🇸

Un defensor incondicional de los valores democráticos y los #derechoshumanos frente al autoritarismo, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional. 🌎 ⚖️

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 22d

🏆 ¡Es un honor para nosotros reconocer a MOVIR
- Movimiento de Víctimas del Régimen - con el Premio de Derechos Humanos de WOLA de este año! Durante más de tres años, han luchado por los detenidos y han defendido los valores democráticos en #ElSalvador. 🇸🇻

#DDHH #democracia

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 22d

🏆 We're honored to announce Senator @kaine.senate.gov
as a recipient of this year's WOLA Human Rights Award!🇺🇸

A steadfast defender of democratic values and #humanrights against authoritarianism, domestically and internationally. Join us in celebrating a true #democracy champion! ⚖️

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 22d

🏆 We're proud to honor MOVIR - Movimiento
de Víctimas del Régimen - with this year's WOLA Human Rights Award! For 3+ years, they've courageously fought for those detained and defended democratic values against #ElSalvador's authoritarian repression. 🇸🇻

#DefendDemocracy

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 27d

🎉 Congratulations to Senior Fellow @jomaburt.bsky.social
on being selected as Visiting Research Scholar & Professor at
Princeton University for Fall 2025.

She brings decades of experience, with her extensive work on transitional justice and human rights. 👇

plas.princeton.edu/people/visit...

Visiting Scholars

plas.princeton.edu

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · 29d

‼️ TODAY @ 2 pm‼️ Director for Central America Ana María Mendéz Dardón is testifying at a hearing with @tlhumanrights.bsky.social on laws regulating civic space and the implications for human rights. Don't miss it! 👇

humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications

Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.

humanrightscommission.house.gov

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Sep 5

🇺🇸 🇻🇪 Nuevo análisis ‼️

Respondemos preguntas clave sobre las tensiones entre #Venezuela y #EstadosUnidos: las implicaciones del ataque letal, los vínculos del régimen con economías ilícitas y los riesgos de escalada militar. 👇

www.wola.org/es/analysis/...

Q&A: Tensión entre Venezuela y Estados Unidos: entre la verdad y la teatralidad - WOLA

El 2 de septiembre, el presidente de EE.UU. anunció desde la Sala Oval de la Casa Blanca que una embarcación cargada de drogas había sido hundida en el mar Caribe por un ataque de misil y que 11 perso...

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨 Next week WOLA's Director for Central America
Ana María Méndez Dardón will be testifying in this hearing at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Don't miss it!

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission @tlhumanrights.bsky.social · Sep 3

Please join us Tuesday, September 9 at 2:00 pm EST for a hearing on Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs.

humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications

Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.

humanrightscommission.house.gov

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Sep 3

🚨 Yesterday's U.S. military strike off Venezuela's coast represents an unprecedented escalation in drug interdiction operations, violating international maritime law and setting a dangerous precedent for the use of lethal force. Read WOLA's statement.👇

www.wola.org/2025/09/leth...

Lethal U.S. military strike on alleged drug traffickers sets a dangerous precedent in the “war on drugs” - WOLA

Yesterday, the President of the United States shared a video that appears to show a U.S. military strike on a boat off the coast of Venezuela. President Trump’s social media post stated that 11 of tho...

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Sep 2

🚨 WOLA President @cjimenezDC has been selected as a Perry World House visiting fellow for 2025-26 at the University of Pennsylvania. 🏛️ We are honored by this recognition of her scholarship and leadership in human rights advocacy across Latin America. 📚⚖️

Perry World House @perryworldhouse.bsky.social · Sep 2

We are excited to announce our new cohort of visiting fellows for 2025-26! 🌎 👏 Throughout the year, @upenn.edu students and faculty will be able to engage with and learn from this outstanding group of experts from around the world. Read more:: perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Aug 21

🇵🇪 TODAY: IACHR hearing on Peru's amnesty law that could free perpetrators of human rights violations.

📄 Read WOLA Senior Fellow @jomaburt.bsky.social's analysis on how this threatens to block justice for families and close the circle of #impunity in #Peru. ⬇️

www.wola.org/analysis/per...

Peru’s Amnesty Law: Closing the circle of impunity? - WOLA

Gisela Ortiz was 19 years old in 1992 when her brother Enrique was forcibly disappeared from La Cantuta University by a military death squad, along with eight other students and a professor. I first m...

Reposted by WOLA

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · Aug 15

In this week's @wola-org.bsky.social Border Update:

- July migration and drug seizure data (lots of charts)
- Notes on “mass deportation”
- Notes from Mexico

Weekly U.S.-Mexico Border Update: July migration and drug seizures, "mass deportation," Mexico - WOLA

CBP releases July data showing migration hitting new low at the border; Notes on “mass deportation”; Notes from Mexico

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Aug 15

🇵🇪 "This amnesty law is a law that consecrates impunity," @jomaburt.bsky.social told The Guardian on Peru's controversial legislation protecting military and police from prosecution.

🗞️ Read the full article: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Peru enacts amnesty for military and police accused of human rights abuses

Families of victims and advocacy groups condemn law that covers internal armed conflict from 1980 to 2000

www.theguardian.com

WOLA @wola-org.bsky.social · Aug 12

🚨 🇪🇨 Desde WOLA hacemos un llamado al respeto total de la autonomía del poder judicial en #Ecuador. La independencia judicial no es opcional; es la base de la democracia.