News and analysis of politics, security, development and U.S. policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, from the Washington Office on Latin America.
…
continue reading
Drug Positive is the risk reduction and benefit enhancement podcast reducing shame and stigma to save lives and end the drug war.
…
continue reading
1
A Groundbreaking ‘Win’ at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs
53:56
53:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:56
On March 14-22, 2024, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) held its 67th annual session in Vienna, Austria. The session saw a landmark vote that may have important repercussions for drug policy, in Latin America and elsewhere. The commission approved a U.S.-led resolution encouraging countries to implement “harm reduction” measures to respond …
…
continue reading
1
Flooding the Zone: the "Bukele Model,” Security and Democracy in El Salvador
57:47
57:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:47
El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele just won re-election by a broad margin as a massive security crackdown has reduced gangs’ role in everyday life. But the increasingly authoritarian “Bukele model” has a big long-term downside, Douglas Farah explains. --- It has been almost a month since Nayib Bukele was reelected as President of El Salvador by a…
…
continue reading
1
Violence in Ecuador: Getting Beyond Stopgap Solutions
1:02:52
1:02:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:52
A January outbreak of criminal violence in Ecuador made headlines worldwide. Now, a new government is cracking down in ways that recall other countries' "mano dura" policies, and the U.S. government stands ready to help. Is this the right way forward? While this isn’t the first time Ecuador’s government has declared a state of exception, the promin…
…
continue reading
1
A New Chapter in Guatemala's Anti-Corruption Struggle
55:38
55:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:38
After relentless attempts to block his inauguration and a nine-hour delay, Bernardo Arévalo, who ran for Guatemala’s presidency on an anti-corruption platform, was sworn into office minutes after midnight on January 14. In this highly educational episode, WOLA Director for Central America Ana María Méndez Dardón is joined by WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-M…
…
continue reading
1
Understanding Regional Migration in an Election Year
53:33
53:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:33
As congressional negotiations place asylum and other legal protection pathways at risk, and as we approach a 2024 election year with migration becoming a higher priority for voters in the United States, we found it important to discuss the current moment's complexities. WOLA’s vice president for Programs, Maureen Meyer, former director for WOLA’s M…
…
continue reading
1
Taking Stock After a Tumultuous Year in the Americas: A Conversation with Carolina Jiménez Sandoval
50:28
50:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:28
A conversation with WOLA's President, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, about the year ahead. She discusses current challenges in the Americas within four areas that are orienting WOLA's current work: democracy, migration, climate, and gender and racial justice.
…
continue reading
1
Planning, Unity, and Discipline: the Keys to Non-Violent Social Change in the Americas
1:05:34
1:05:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:34
Maria Belén Garrido, a research lecturer at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, and Jeffrey Pugh, an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, lead the Regional Institute for the Study and Practice of Strategic Nonviolent Action in the Americas. The institute provides training, capacity building, and networking oppor…
…
continue reading
1
Mexico: “Demilitarization is not going to happen from one day to the next. But there needs to be that commitment”
1:06:39
1:06:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:39
A new report from WOLA dives deeply into the growing power and roles of Mexico’s military, and what that means for human rights, democracy, and U.S.-Mexico relations. WOLA’s Mexico Program published Militarized Transformation: Human Rights and Democratic Controls in a Context of Increasing Militarization in Mexico on September 6. The report voices …
…
continue reading
1
Venezuela: “The way out of this situation has to be through a democratic and peaceful solution”
49:42
49:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:42
Venezuela is to hold presidential elections sometime in 2024. Whether they will be at least somewhat free and fair, moving the country away from authoritarianism and toward democracy, is unlikely but far from impossible. It is a goal that must guide the international community and Venezuelan civil society. That is one of the central messages of Lau…
…
continue reading
1
Advocacy for Migrants at a Challenging Time: The View from Mexico
47:55
47:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:55
Gretchen Kuhner directs the Mexico City-based Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI). She explains the challenges and complexities—and occasional advocacy successes—of the current moment of record migration and changing policies, viewed from Mexico.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Good Governance Needs Good Data: the Central America Monitor Looks Ahead
51:34
51:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:34
Joining WOLA with partners in three countries, the Central America Monitor has tracked governance indicators during a very difficult nine years. WOLA's Elizabeth Kennedy and Lisette Vásquez of the Myrna Mack Foundation explain this important work.
…
continue reading
1
Fentanyl: "What sounds tough isn't necessarily a serious policy"
55:25
55:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:25
From a traditional drug policy perspective, fentanyl would appear to be an intractable problem. It also threatens a rift in the U.S.-Mexico relationship. WOLA's John Walsh and Stephanie Brewer point to better ways to respond to this challenge.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
“We can’t deter our way out of this”: a view from the Honduras-Nicaragua border
36:17
36:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:17
WOLA staff report from Honduras after a visit to the border with Nicaragua, where we witnessed a historic migration flow. As government and service providers struggle to manage this result of a series of policy failures, it's not clear what lies ahead.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
"The days of hoping for a magical solution are long gone": Geoff Ramsey on Venezuela
47:27
47:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:27
A conversation about the political and humanitarian moment in Venezuela, efforts to resolve the country's crisis, and the U.S. role, with Geoff Ramsey, who recently departed WOLA's Venezuela Program and is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Guatemala: An Eroding Democracy Approaches New Elections
48:21
48:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:21
Guatemala's deteriorating democracy is approaching June elections with disqualified candidates, imprisoned or exiled judicial workers and journalists, and a U.S. policy that's hard to pin down. Analysis from WOLA Central America Program Director Ana María Méndez and Council on Foreign Relations Latin America Fellow Will Freeman.…
…
continue reading
1
Peru's Turmoil and "the Danger of a Much Deeper Crisis"
45:16
45:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:16
December 2022 in Peru has seen a president's failed attempt to dissolve Congress and subsequent jailing, and now large-scale protests met with a military crackdown. Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt explains what's at stake in a deeply divided nation.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Unprotected at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Reporting Back from Texas and Arizona
54:42
54:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:42
WOLA staff spent a mid-November week visiting several points along the U.S.-Mexico border. We spoke to many migrants stranded in Mexico, in shelters and in rustic camps, unable to seek protection in the United States. What will happen if and when Title 42 ends?By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Mexico Sends in the Troops: Stephanie Brewer on the Militarization of Public Security
46:55
46:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:55
Mexico has been increasing its armed forces' role in public security for many years, but the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador has just taken it to historic new lengths. WOLA's Mexico Program director, Stephanie Brewer, explains.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
“What happens with the Petro government could become a model for engaging with the region”
52:33
52:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:33
WOLA's director for the Andes, Gimena Sánchez, was in Colombia during the historic June 19 election that sent Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez to the presidency and vice-presidency. We discuss this victory's significance and the big challenges ahead.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
Adam, Stephanie Brewer, Maureen Meyer, and Lesly Tejada discuss regional migration and the Summit of the Americas, which took place Los Angeles earlier in June. The four analyze the political implications of the Summit and their recent travel to the border areas.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
"We believe there are multiple armed conflicts": Kyle Johnson on security in Colombia
1:06:34
1:06:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:34
Recent violence in the northeastern region of Arauca shows the complicated, fragmented nature of Colombia's armed conflict—or "conflicts," as security analyst Kyle Johnson calls it in this clear, nuanced explanation of security challenges in early 2022.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Is Mexico Prepared to be a Country of Refuge?
58:34
58:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:34
More than 120,000 migrants have applied for protection in Mexico in 2021. We discuss Mexico’s difficult transition to being a country of refuge with Gretchen Kuhner of IMUMI, Daniel Berlin of Asylum Access Mexico, and Maureen Meyer and Stephanie Brewer of WOLA.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
Colombia's government and largest guerrilla group signed a historic peace accord on November 24, 2016. Five years later, is it being implemented? Not enough. WOLA Director for the Andes Gimena Sánchez walks us through what is going well and what is not.
…
continue reading
1
Missing in Brooks County: A tragic outcome of U.S. border and migration policy
1:06:48
1:06:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:48
Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss have produced a new documentary, "Missing in Brooks County," about thousands of migrants dying in ranchland surrounding a south Texas Border Patrol checkpoint. They are joined by Texas State U. anthropologist Kate Spradley.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
A Conversation with WOLA's New President, Carolina Jiménez Sandoval
47:53
47:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:53
As of September 1, WOLA has new president. Carolina Jiménez has an impressive biography—and here, we talk about her work, how civil society has evolved throughout Latin America, the threat of authoritarianism, opportunities in US policy, and her next steps.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
For Disappearances to End, Justice Must Begin: Justice for Disappeared Mexicans
46:36
46:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:36
In this conversation, Adam and Stephanie discuss how Mexico's disappearance crisis grew to today's tragic scale, what has worked and has not worked for investigations into disappearances in the country, and some of the major findings of the WOLA's campaign on the issue. Please visit the campaign's website to see the in-depth findings and learn what…
…
continue reading
Geoff Thale, WOLA’s president, has retired after 40 years as an advocate for human rights in Latin America. When Geoff’s career began, the idea of citizens working full-time to change foreign policy was unheard of. Geoff reflects on how much has changed.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Addressing Cuba's Unseen Humanitarian Disaster
40:36
40:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:36
Last month's protests in Cuba captured international attention for the large groups that took to the street to express frustration with the island's current conditions. This week's podcast discusses the protests triggers, the island's ongoing humanitarian disaster, and what, if anything, the Biden administration can do to help the Cuban people.…
…
continue reading
1
Colombia After the Paro Nacional: A Report Back From Cali
48:31
48:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:31
Lisa Haugaard, director of the Latin America Working Group, is just back from accompanying a human rights delegation to Cali, Colombia, an epicenter of April-June protests. She conveys what witnesses told her about police brutality and new civic energy.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
For those closely following Haiti, the recent assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the chaos and political uncertainty following it have been years in the making, in a country tragically familiar with political and humanitarian crises.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Aligning Policy with Reality at the U.S.-Mexico Border
56:12
56:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:12
Former WOLA Director Joy Olson just carried out dozens of interviews along the Texas-Mexico border. She came back saddened by expelled migrants' suffering, perplexed by the Biden administration's halting measures, and calling for bold policy changes.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
The condition of Nicaragua's democracy has steadily deteriorated over the course of President Daniel Ortega's regime. Recently, in anticipation of the country's coming elections, President Ortega and his wife/Vice President Rosario Murillo have arrested more than a dozen of their significant political opponents under a new law that labels them as "…
…
continue reading
1
What's at Stake in Peru's Coming Elections
53:22
53:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:22
Peruvians vote on June 6 in a runoff between two presidential candidates who represent populist extremes, and who reflect growing divisions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt explains the tense pre-election moment.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
A Snapshot of Human Rights and Democracy in Brazil
49:19
49:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:19
Brazil is the second largest country in the hemisphere but its many complex issues rarely make news in the U.S. This week, Camila Asano, Director of Programs at the Brazilian human rights NGO Conectas joins Adam and Moses to paint a picture of attacks on human rights and democracy there.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Understanding Colombia's Latest Wave of Social Protest
41:31
41:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:31
Protests that began April 28 in Colombia are maintaining momentum and a broad base, despite a heavy-handed government response. Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, WOLA's director for the Andes, sees a movement coalescing—and a need for a more decisive U.S. approach.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
DPP #26: New Fun Drugs are Coming Soon!
1:07:36
1:07:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:36
Are you ready for a new drug? In this episode I interview neuroscientist Matthew Baggott about his new company, Tactogen, which is synthesizing and bringing to market new MDMA-like substances. We also discuss the pros and cons of the new psychedelic renaissance, what the mainstreaming of psychedelics might look like in the near future and how it mi…
…
continue reading
1
The Complexity of Engaging with Central America
42:17
42:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:17
Top Biden administration officials, including Vice-President Kamala Harris, are developing a new approach to Central America. The theme is familiar: addressing migration's "root causes." WOLA President Geoff Thale and Citizen Security Director Adriana Beltrán discuss.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
The Biden administration is asking Mexico to do more to limit or stop arrivals of asylum-seeking migrants from Central America and elsewhere. Several WOLA experts discuss Mexico's military deployments, expulsions of families, and the view from El Paso.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
"People coming from the Western Hemisphere have been perceived as inherently not refugees"
57:06
57:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:06
Yael Shacher, senior U.S. advocate at Refugees International, is a historian of U.S. asylum policy. She offers an invaluable perspective on the current increase in asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, and how the system should work.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
This series from the Washington Office on Latin America will share the stories of social leaders in Colombia who, every day, under threat to their lives, search for truth and work toward reconciliation, fight for justice for victims of the Colombian conflict, and ensure the government lives up to the guarantees it made to ethnic and rural communiti…
…
continue reading
1
A Critical Moment for El Salvador's Democracy
1:06:49
1:06:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:49
El Salvador's popular but authoritarian-leaning president, Nayib Bukele, may enjoy a congressional supermajority after February 28 elections. Mauricio Silva and José Luis Sanz discuss the many implications for Salvadoran democracy and U.S. policy.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
DPP #25: When Will Festivals Happen Again?
39:34
39:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:34
It's been almost a year since the pandemic ended mass gatherings. A year without live music and festivals has taken its toll on many of us. When will they start up again? In this episode I discuss the latest COVID science to try to find an answer to that question. Rough Transcript Hi everyone. I’m back, and once again . . . I know it’s been a long …
…
continue reading
1
Mexico: the meaning of the Cienfuegos case
42:44
42:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:44
WOLA's Director for Mexico and Migrant Rights, Stephanie Brewer, walks us through the late 2020 arrest and release of Mexico's last defense secretary, and what Mexico's handling of the case tells us about the military's power and U.S.-Mexican relations.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
The Transition: Authoritarianism, Populism, and Closing Civic Space
43:50
43:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:50
Populist and authoritarian leaders have made important gains in Latin America, and the U.S. government has been inconsistent in its dealings with them, and in its support for civil society. WOLA's Geoff Thale and Geoff Ramsey outline a better way forward.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
When your neighbor is a murderer: Sean Mattison on "escrache" in Argentina
33:54
33:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:54
The New York Times recently ran a short film by Sean Mattison about how victims of Argentina's 1976-83 dictatorship creatively called out the ex-military killers and torturers who, benefiting from an amnesty, were living in their midst.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
The Transition: The future of Latin America's anti-corruption fight
46:47
46:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:47
Corruption is "endemic: a system, a network, a web of relations" that underlies many other problems in Latin America. Adriana Beltrán and Moses Ngong discuss how the US and other international actors can support the region's anti-corruption reformers.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
The Transition: A Rational, Region-Wide Approach to Migration
39:00
39:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:00
The U.S. government is transitioning between two different visions of migration, while human mobility increases throughout Latin America. Adam Isacson and Maureen Meyer discuss what a humane and effective policy would entail, at home and region-wide.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
The Transition: U.S. Credibility, Cooperation, and a Changed Tone
35:30
35:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:30
The presidential transition means a shift between two very different visions of US relations with Latin America. A group of WOLA staff takes stock of the Trump years' impact on US credibility in the region, and challenges facing the Biden administration.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
Peru's Congress abruptly removed President Martín Viscarra from office this week. It looks like another example of an all-too-familiar recent pattern in Latin America: backlash against anti-corruption reforms. WOLA Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt explains.By Adam Isacson
…
continue reading
1
Beyond the Wall: “It’s all about the families”, Eddie Canales on preventing deaths and identifying missing migrants in Texas borderlands
48:54
48:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:54
A discussion with Eduardo “Eddie” Canales, founder and director of the South Texas Human Rights Center in Falfurrias, Texas. Website: https://southtexashumanrights.org/ Falfurrias is in Brooks County, an area of ranchland 80 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is also one of the deadliest places for migrants. Dozens each year get lost while t…
…
continue reading