Washington Office on Latin America
{{Short description|American human rights NGO}}
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{{third party|date=September 2024}}
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{{Infobox organization
|name = Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
|image = Washington_Office_on_Latin_America_logo.png
|type = Non-profit
NGO
|founded = 1974
|location = Washington, D.C.
|fields = Human rights, advocacy
|homepage = {{URL|http://wola.org}}
}}
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is a United States non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims to promote human rights, democracy, and social and economic justice in Latin America and the Caribbean.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wola.org/about_wola |title=About Us | Washington Office on Latin America |access-date=2011-08-18 |archive-date=2011-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817052424/http://www.wola.org/about_wola |url-status=dead }}
The Washington Office on Latin America aims to facilitate dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors, to monitor the impact of U.S. foreign policy on human rights, democracy and equitable development in Latin America, and to promote alternatives through reporting and advocacy. It reports on these activities in order to inform and educate policy-makers, religious and non-governmental organizations, and the general public about their impact. The briefings of WOLA bring policy-makers and the media in direct contact with Latin American leaders and experts, and the organization works closely with civil society organizations and government officials throughout the Americas.
History
WOLA was founded in 1974 after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état.{{cite web|url=https://www.wola.org/analysis/thirty-years-of-advocacy-for-human-rights-democracy-and-social-justice/|title=Thirty Years of Advocacy for Human Rights, Democracy and Social Justice|last=wola|website=WOLA|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-31}} The first long-term executive director of the organization was Joseph Eldridge, who is currently the chaplain for American University.{{cite web|url=https://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/eldridg.cfm|title=Faculty Profile: Joseph Eldridge {{!}} School of International Service {{!}} American University, Washington, DC|website=www.american.edu|access-date=2019-05-31}} In its early years, some of WOLA's contacts were priests and nuns who lived in Latin America and bore witness to the events there.{{cite web |last1=Youngers |first1=Coletta |title=Thirty Years of Advocacy for Human Rights, Democracy and Social Justice |url=https://www.wola.org/analysis/thirty-years-of-advocacy-for-human-rights-democracy-and-social-justice/ |website=WOLA |access-date=17 September 2024 |date=4 December 2006}}
WOLA has provided U.S. citizens and policy-makers with information about Latin America. It 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
In 1975, WOLA acted as advisors for congressional staff for the drafting of the first major legislation that put conditions on U.S. military aid abroad regarding human-rights practices.Suri, Jeremi. Henry Kissinger and the American century. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2007. p. 243
In 2003, Joy Olson was named Executive Director, a position she held until 2016.{{cite web|date=29 March 2023 |title=A Conversation with Joy Olson, former Executive Director of the Washington Office on Latin America|url=https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/event/a-conversation-with-joy-olson-former-executive-director-of-the-washington-office-on-latin-america-wola| url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325132048/https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/event/a-conversation-with-joy-olson-former-executive-director-of-the-washington-office-on-latin-america-wola/|archivedate=2023-03-25}}
Activities
In 2010, WOLA made a presentation to the House Committee on Ways and Means on U.S.-Cuba Policy.{{Cite web |url=http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/2010Apr29_Thale_Testimony.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-08-18 |archive-date=2011-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408201221/http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/2010Apr29_Thale_Testimony.pdf |url-status=dead }}
The organization works on issues such as drug policy, rural development, violence against women, organized crime and the rights of internally displaced people. Its focuses are split between nations and issues of health and security across the nations. It operates within four 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
Funding
WOLA is funded by a combination of foreign governments, foundations, and private individuals. Its largest donors include the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, along with the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundations, the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Libra Foundation, and the Seattle International Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/WOLA_annual_report2017.pdf|title=WOLA annual report 2017|website=wola.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131213957/https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/WOLA_annual_report2017.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=|access-date=31 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/WOLA-Annual-Report-2016.pdf|title=WOLA annual report 2016|website=wola.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131214044/https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/WOLA-Annual-Report-2016.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=|access-date=31 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/Fundraising/WOLA-Annual-Report-2015_FINAL_web.pdf|title=WOLA annual report 2015|website=wola.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131214835/https://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/Fundraising/WOLA-Annual-Report-2015_FINAL_web.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=|access-date=31 January 2019}}
References
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External links
- [http://www.wola.org/ Washington Office on Latin America website]
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Category:Latin American studies
Category:United States–Caribbean relations
Category:Human rights organizations based in the United States
Category:Human rights in Latin America