All Content: Mexico

Mexican Human Rights Defender Norma Andrade Attacked for Second Time in Two Months

WOLA's letter to Mexico's Secretary of the Interior
8 Feb 2012
News
The recent attacks on Norma Andrade demonstrate the need to implement a protective mechanism for human rights defenders.

Recent Developments on the Use of Military Jurisdiction in Mexico

31 Jan 2012
Analysis & Commentary
In this memo, WOLA's Maureen Meyer analyzes recent developments and obstacles in transferring cases of human rights violations from military to civilian jurisdiction in Mexico, including the status of three such cases and the implications of the Mexican Supreme Court's July 2011 ruling.

Organizations in the U.S. Express Support for the Victims of Violence in Mexico

30 Jan 2012
Video
WOLA and other organizations in the U.S. created a video expressing their support of the victims of violence in Mexico. The video was made as part of the campaign "In Someone Else's Shoes," which launched on Monday, January 30 in Mexico City.

“In Someone Else’s Shoes:” An artistic event in support of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity

27 Jan 2012
Video
More than 100 artists, along with the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity, come together to hold an event where music, video, and social change converged to give voice to the victims of violence in Mexico, launching a campaign called "In Someone Else's Shoes." Watch the campaign ads here.

Security at the U.S.-Mexico Border: WOLA Reports from the Ground

A report from Arizona with Adam Isacson, Maureen Meyer and George Withers
11 Jan 2012
Publication
Adam, WOLA Senior Associate Maureen Meyer, and Senior Fellow George Withers are on a research trip to the Arizona-Mexico border region. They talk about what they are learning about spillover violence, the security buildup, and consequences for migrants.

WOLA: Promoting Human Rights, Democracy, and Social Justice

22 Dec 2011
Video
As the year winds to a close, we hope you will enjoy this video about how WOLA works with partners in the region to advance human rights in Latin America. If you have not done so, we hope you will consider making a donation to WOLA to support our continued efforts. Your support makes a difference.

An Uneasy Coexistence: Security and Migration Along the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez Border

In a trip report, WOLA finds violence failing to spill over, migration dropping, drug trafficking persisting, a huge security buildup, and migrants caught in the middle
20 Dec 2011
Analysis & Commentary
A trip report from two Fall 2011 visits of WOLA staff to the El Paso-Juárez border. We found violence failing to spill over, drug trafficking continuing, and migration dropping sharply amid an unprecedented U.S. security buildup. In the absence of a clear border security policy, the migrant population has been hit especially hard.

On One-Year Anniversary of Tragic Murder of Mexican Activist, U.S. Congress Urges Need to Protect Human Rights Defenders

16 Dec 2011
Publication
The increasing number of attacks and murders of human rights defenders in Mexico in this past year underscores the continued failure of the Mexican government to protect defenders and the urgent need for more action to ensure that they can carry out their work safely.

U.S. Congressional Leaders Urge Administration to Focus on Migrant Rights in Mexico

Call on Secretary Clinton to Take Action
2 Dec 2011
News
The letter urges that this issue to be incorporated as part of the United States' bilateral dialogue with Mexico, a step supported by groups like the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a human rights advocacy group with over 30 years of expertise in U.S.-Mexican relations.

A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for U.S. Policy Toward Mexico and Beyond

10 Nov 2011
Publication
Whenever people discuss solutions to Mexico’s out-of-control violence, someone will inevitably bring up Colombia as a “model.” The report concludes that the ‘success’ of the past several years in Colombia is only a partial, and fragile, victory at best—and it has come at an unacceptably high human and institutional cost.

New Report on Mistakes of Plan Colombia and Lessons for Latin America

A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for Mexico and Beyond
10 Nov 2011
News
Today the Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF), the Center for International Policy (CIP), and WOLA release A Cautionary Tale: Plan Colombia's Lessons for Mexico and Beyond, a new report that dissects the Colombian experience of the past ten years

Tell President Obama to Help Stop Gun Smugglers

Join with thousands of others petitioning him from both sides of the border
21 Oct 2011
Publication
Now you can be a part of the solution for a more peaceful Mexico. A bi-national campaign is calling on the U.S. government to stem the flow of illegal weapons going across the border.

Migration and Border Security

Josiah Heyman on conditions in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez
19 Oct 2011
Publication
Adam talks to Josiah Heyman, professor of Anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso, about recent developments in U.S. border policy and their impact on migration and security in El Paso, Texas and the neighboring city of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Join Diego Luna - Stop Gun Smuggling to Mexico

19 Oct 2011
Video
According to a recent U.S. Congressional report, approximately 70% of the weapons seized in Mexico in 2009 and 2010 submitted for tracing came from the United States. Listen to Diego Luna's message about gun violence in Mexico, and then join the movement for peace in Mexico by signing a petition to U.S. President Obama.

Security and the Military on the U.S.-Mexico Border

A conversation with Timothy Dunn
7 Oct 2011
Publication
WOLA Fellows George Withers and Lucila Santos have an animated conversation about militarization, border security and migration with Timothy Dunn, a professor at the University of Salisbury and expert on U.S. border policy.

Protecting Mexican Guest Workers and Seeking a Saner Migration Policy

30 Sep 2011
Publication
Adam and WOLA Senior Associate for Rights and Development Vicki Gass talk with Chuck Barrett, a consultant to Catholic Relief Services, about rural development, migration, and protecting the rights of agricultural guest workers from Mexico.

Joy Olson Speaks at the 2011 WOLA Human Rights Awards

21 Sep 2011
Video
WOLA's Executive Director, Joy Olson, gives the opening address at WOLA's 2011 Human Rights Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala.

Migrants and Human Rights Activists in Mexico Receive Death Threats and Harrassment

20 Sep 2011
Publication
Below is a letter sent from WOLA to Mexican Secretary of the Interior, Francisco Blake Mora, that expresses our concern for the safety of Fray Tomás González and other migrant rights defenders who received threats for their work.

WOLA's 2011 Human Rights Award: Gael García Bernal Speech

20 Sep 2011
Video
On September 13, 2011, WOLA honored Gael García Bernal at an Awards Ceremony and Benefit Gala. You can hear his acceptance comments here.

Migration and Development in the United States and Mexico

Policy Recommendations for Both Governments
13 Sep 2011
Publication
In 2010, the Washington Office on Latin America and Iniciativa Ciudadana para la Promoción de la Cultura del Diálogo began joint work on the linkages between migration and development.