WOLA is a leading research and advocacy organization committed to advancing human rights in the Americas. We create strategic partnerships with courageous people making social change—advocacy organizations, academics, religious and business leaders, artists, and government officials. Together, we advocate for more just societies in the Americas.
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano) The Washington Office on Latin American (WOLA) is pleased to invite you to the virtual forum: "Perspectives on the Civil Society Consultation in the Venezuela Negotiations". The event will serve as an opportunity to discuss future scenarios...
On November 26, representatives of the government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition Unitary Platform coalition will resume formal talks in the negotiations framework that began in Mexico City in 2021. While the parties have engaged in quiet dialogue in recent...
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) As Venezuela’s crisis has deepened, the international community is searching for a new approach that can maximize the possibility of a peaceful return to democracy. There is a growing consensus that the only possible solution will...
On October 9, Venezuela program director Geoff Ramsey was interviewed by Prodavinci to discuss how Washington’s strategy can be better leveraged to incentivize actors in Venezuela to move forward with the negotiation process, as the possibility of resuming negotiations in Mexico in the coming weeks has grown.
The situation in Venezuela represents one of the biggest challenges to democracy and human rights in the Americas, with the Venezuelan security forces and armed pro-government groups responsible for grave human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.
Image: A crowd carrying flags and blowing whistles gathers in an anti-government demonstration. November 16, 2019. Caracas, Venezuela. AP Images/Matias Delacroix. Caracas, May 18th, 2022 The individuals and civil society organizations subscribing to this statement...
On May 3, WOLA Director for Venezuela Geoff Ramsey was featured in a Q&A in the Inter-American Dialogue’s Latin America Advisor, along with Maria Eugenia Vidal and Beatrice Rangel, on the recent remarks by Argentine President Alberto Fernández regarding Argentina’s diplomatic relationship with the Maduro government
On April 27, a group of 19 Venezuelan and international organizations including WOLA issued a letter to President of Argentina Alberto Fernández to express concern over the situation of human rights defender Javier Tarazona, who has been arbitrarily detained for several months.
The undersigned human rights organizations welcome the recent announcement by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A. Khan, on the establishment of a decentralized office of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in Caracas, and the declaration that the Office will work jointly with important international allies.
On April 5, 2022, a meeting took place between members of the Venezuelan government and members of various civil society organizations, with the objective of presenting an agenda of citizens’ demands that have been comprised through social dialogue, conversations between organizations and citizens, and consultations with leadership from across the political spectrum.