Dear John,

Last week brought news that should alarm anyone who cares about democracy in the Americas. El Salvador's legislature approved constitutional changes that eliminate presidential term limits, essentially allowing President Nayib Bukele to remain in power indefinitely. As someone who witnessed firsthand the slow erosion of democratic institutions in my home country of Venezuela, I can tell you that this moment represents a critical milestone on the road to authoritarian consolidation.

WOLA has been warning about Bukele's authoritarian drift since 2020. We've watched him capture the judiciary, silence dissent, eliminate political opponents, and now remove constitutional term limits. This past week, I’ve been actively calling out this constitutional manipulation, including on CNN Español and France 24.

Authoritarianism recognizes no ideology or political party. In Latin America, we have witnessed the co-optation of democratic institutions and the systematic undermining of human rights under leaders across the political spectrum—from the left and the right alike. The tactics may vary, but the end result is the same: the concentration of power in the hands of a few at the expense of the many. This is precisely why our work at WOLA remains as vital as ever. Our commitment is to principles and to the mission for which WOLA was created: to defend human rights in the Americas. 

Last week reminded me why I am proud to lead this organization. Within days, we published an article on the conviction of former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, released a comprehensive report marking one year since the electoral fraud in Venezuela, and issued our response to the constitutional crisis unfolding in El Salvador. These may seem like disparate issues, but they represent the same fundamental struggle: the defense of democratic values against those who would subvert them.

These times can be challenging, but WOLA was not founded to take the easy path. We were founded to fight for what we believe in and to speak truth to power, regardless of who holds that power or which direction the political winds are blowing.

Thank you for standing with us in this critical work.

In solidarity,

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

President

For human rights activists across Latin America right now, the stakes are high. Violence around elections is on the rise, as are threats against those who speak in favor of justice and accountability.

Your support of WOLA creates space to amplify the voices of those who put their life on the line to champion human rights; from Caracas, to San Salvador, and everywhere in between.

“Democratic institutions [in Ecuador] are too corrupt, too slow, too unresponsive. The great risk and the appeal is also to temporarily set aside the protections of democracy and the rule of law to do what needs to be done." This article is in Spanish.

John Walsh

Director for Drug Policy and the Andes

– Infobae, El desafío de Ecuador frente a la crisis institucional y la violencia: el largo camino por la transparencia

"Maybe [private security firms] could take out a few crime leaders ... They’re not subject to human rights standards. They offer deniability, so they can go on a rampage without it blowing back as much on the state."

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

– InSight Crime, Latin America’s Risky Bet on Hired Guns to Fight Crime

"[The] legislative assembly [in El Salvador] “has ceased to be an autonomous body and acts fully aligned with the interests of the Executive Branch, without allowing dissent or democratic debate.”

WOLA

– Miami Herald, Reforms allowing Bukele to rule El Salvador indefinitely spark criticism

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