WOLA - Working for human rights for all in Latin America
Advocacy is key to WOLA's mission.
Photo: WOLA
|
Church World Service partner the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is a non-profit policy, research, and advocacy organization working to advance democracy, human rights, and social justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1974 with funding from CWS and many mainline Protestant denominations, WOLA plays a leading role in Washington policy debates about Latin America. WOLA facilitates dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors, monitors the impact of policies and programs of governments and international organizations, and promotes alternatives through reporting, public education, and advocacy. WOLA's effectiveness is greatly enhanced by the leading role it plays in a number of U.S.-based coalitions of religious, human rights, and peace and justice organizations addressing issues of democracy, human rights, and social justice in Latin America.
A hallmark of WOLA's work is the close relationship it has with sister organizations in the region. WOLA staff work with regional colleagues in formulating and carrying out its programs, and facilitates access for regional colleagues to the policy-making community in Washington. In addition, WOLA press statements and staff commentary are featured regularly in the Latin American press. WOLA staff meets with and educates representatives of Congress, the Departments of State and Defense, the Organization of Americans States (OAS), the media, and NGOs.
In 2007, Church World Service, WOLA, and partners will: address the problem of the internally displaced in Colombia; monitor the fulfillment of the labor rights provisions of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement; press for a comprehensive, prevention-oriented, rights-respecting response to youth gang violence in Central America; focus on organized crime in the region, particularly in Guatemala, Colombia, and Mexico; promote concrete alternatives to the U.S.-backed eradication approach to drug policy in the region; work to stop the progression of expanded roles of U.S. and Central American militaries into civilian functions and press for the development of effective, rights-respecting police forces; address the problem of violence against women in Mexico and Guatemala and press for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible; press for a new U.S. policy toward Latin America; monitor and push for responsible U.S. policies toward Venezuela and Bolivia based on the realities in each country; and continue work on Cuba policy, especially on easing the ban on U.S. travel to Cuba; and expand its work with the Latino community in the U.S.