LAWG Blog - Latin America Working Group

Let’s Listen to the Message: Mexico’s Caravan for Peace Calls for a New Approach to Drug Violence

by Lisa Haugaard on September 19, 2012

One hundred and ten victims of violence from Mexico and human rights activists traveled thousands of miles, caravanning in 2 buses to visit 25 cities across the United States to urge communities from Los Angeles to New York, Tucson to Montgomery to help them stop the horrific violence that is afflicting their families and their country. The Latin America Working Group was proud to join with Global Exchange, Washington Office on Latin America, Drug Policy Alliance, Witness for Peace, Center for International Policy, RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Mennonite Central Committee, and many other partner organizations and faith communities to host this historic caravan as they ended their journey on September 12, 2012 in Washington, DC. and other partners to host this historic caravan as they ended their journey on September 12, 2012 in Washington, DC.

:2012, Blog Posts, Lisa Haugaard, Mexico, U.S.-Mexico Border

International Day of Action for Asotrecol

by Omar Martinez on September 17, 2012

About two weeks ago my co-worker Lisa sent you a message about how you can help protect workers' rights in Colombia. Today, Asotrecol (the Association of Injured Workers and Ex-Workers of General Motors Colombia) has declared an international day of action.

:2012, Action Alerts, Stand by Colombia's Victims of Violence

Cuba's on the list, can you name the others?

by The LAWG Cuba Team, Mavis, Emily and Robyn on September 14, 2012

While most members of Congress were on recess in August, we weren’t. Instead of hanging up our hats, we are prepping for what may come this fall. This means educating ourselves and you on some of the harsh aspects of our current policy towards Cuba.

:2012, Action Alerts, End the Travel Ban on Cuba

USOC and LAWGEF Applaud Peace Negotiations in Colombia

by Omar Martinez on September 10, 2012

US Office on Colombia and Latin America Working Group Education Fund Applaud Steps towards Peace Negotiations in Colombia

We applaud the announcement that the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have agreed to begin formal negotiations. We salute Colombia in this effort to bring a negotiated end to the nearly 50-year-old internal conflict. We also are encouraged to hear the National Liberation Army’s (ELN) stated willingness to enter into peace talks.

We believe it is imperative that combatants and civilians alike be guaranteed the full application of human rights and international humanitarian law protections throughout this process.

A lasting peace requires addressing the root causes of the conflict. The peace process must include substantial space for civil society involvement and input, including by women, Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities and other sectors brutally affected by the war, in order to ensure that historic underlying economic and social conflicts and decades of human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations by all parties to the conflict are addressed.

We hope that this initiative brings about the lasting peace with justice that Colombians long for and deserve.

September 10, 2012

:2012, LAWG/LAWGEF Statements, Memos, and Speeches, Stand by Colombia's Victims of Violence

Colombians Speak of Peace, Once Again

by Omar Martinez on September 10, 2012

As peace negotiations seem, we are so glad to hear, once again possible in Colombia, we would like to share this statement from Colombians for Peace (Colombianos y Colombianos por la Paz):

:2012, Blog Posts, Colombia