Washington Office on Latin America
Encyclopedia
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is an American
non-governmental organization
(NGO) whose stated goal is to promote human rights
, democracy
and social and economic justice in Latin America
and the Caribbean
.
The Washington Office on Latin America, WOLA, facilitates dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors, monitors the impact of U.S. foreign policy on human rights, democracy and equitable development in Latin America, and promotes alternatives through reporting and advocacy. Through its reports, WOLA informs and educates policy-makers, religious and non-governmental organizations, and the general public about that impact. In addition, WOLA's briefings bring policy-makers and the media in direct contact with Latin American leaders and experts on a regular basis. WOLA works closely with civil society organizations and government officials throughout the Americas.
. In its early years, some of WOLA's contacts were priests and nuns that lived in Latin America and bore firsthand witness to the events there.
WOLA has provided U.S. citizens and policy makers with firsthand information from Latin America. It also informs the U.S. government about the effects of U.S. policy on the region. It facilitates communications and helps to sponsor visits from Latin Americans with expertise and experiences in human rights.
In 1975, the first major legislation that put conditions on U.S. military aid abroad on human-rights practices was drafted by congressional staff-persons who asked WOLA for advice.
, and to U.S. and Latin American news media.
The organization works on issues such as drug policy, rural development, violence against women, organized crime and the rights of internally displaced people.
Current program work includes:
WOLA plays a key role within four somewhat distinct networks of non-governmental organizations: the human rights community, the foreign policy community, academic think-tanks, and the community of peace, justice, solidarity and religious-based organizations. WOLA's role as a bridge connecting different networks with each other and with policy-makers has increased over the years.
, the Washington Post and the LA Times.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) whose stated goal is to promote human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and social and economic justice in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
The Washington Office on Latin America, WOLA, facilitates dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors, monitors the impact of U.S. foreign policy on human rights, democracy and equitable development in Latin America, and promotes alternatives through reporting and advocacy. Through its reports, WOLA informs and educates policy-makers, religious and non-governmental organizations, and the general public about that impact. In addition, WOLA's briefings bring policy-makers and the media in direct contact with Latin American leaders and experts on a regular basis. WOLA works closely with civil society organizations and government officials throughout the Americas.
History
WOLA was founded in 1974 after the 1973 military coup of the democratically elected government in Chile. The first long-term executive director of the organization was Joseph Eldridge, who is currently the chaplain for American UniversityAmerican University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. In its early years, some of WOLA's contacts were priests and nuns that lived in Latin America and bore firsthand witness to the events there.
WOLA has provided U.S. citizens and policy makers with firsthand information from Latin America. It also informs the U.S. government about the effects of U.S. policy on the region. It facilitates communications and helps to sponsor visits from Latin Americans with expertise and experiences in human rights.
In 1975, the first major legislation that put conditions on U.S. military aid abroad on human-rights practices was drafted by congressional staff-persons who asked WOLA for advice.
Current work
WOLA has played a key role in most major Washington policy debates over human rights in Latin America since its foundation. Today, WOLA is called upon regularly to provide information and analysis to the executive branch, to multilateral organizations, to members of CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, and to U.S. and Latin American news media.
The organization works on issues such as drug policy, rural development, violence against women, organized crime and the rights of internally displaced people.
Current program work includes:
- The Andes
- Central America
- Citizen security
- Cuba
- Drug Policy
- Mexico
- Regional security policy
- Rights and development
WOLA plays a key role within four somewhat distinct networks of non-governmental organizations: the human rights community, the foreign policy community, academic think-tanks, and the community of peace, justice, solidarity and religious-based organizations. WOLA's role as a bridge connecting different networks with each other and with policy-makers has increased over the years.
In the media
WOLA members are widely used as sources for commentary and interpretation on Latin American human rights by media outlets such as the New York Times, CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, the Washington Post and the LA Times.