WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA

Programs

1. Human rights - wola is a leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights and social justice in the americas. We work to shape public policies that uphold human dignity, protect fundamental rights, and ensure that justice prevails over violence. Our efforts address cross-border challenges that demand both local and international solutions. In close collaboration with human rights defenders, civil society organizations, academics, and policymakers, wola advocates for more just and inclusive societies. Three core priorities to guide our work: inclusive democracy supported by a vibrant civil society; security and peace rooted in justice; and equity amidst the climate crisis, gender inequality, and migration. Through evidence-based research, strategic communications, and sustained policy engagement, we work to influence decision-makers, support frontline movements, and drive lasting change across the region. In 2025, wola led assessments of the u.s. Administration's policies toward latin america, worked to preserve u.s. Funding for democracy and human rights in the americas, and supported congressional oversight over executive actions. In june 2025, wola published a…

   $415,243 spent
   22% of program spending

2. Colombia - in 2025, wola deepened its efforts to advance peace, human rights, and racial justice in colombia. Wola collaborated with the u.s. Congressional black caucus to promote the rights of afrodescendants in the americas and the un's second decade of afrodescendants. This included participating in the events in the congress and publishing an analytical article on the lessons of the first afrodescendant decade. In may, wola staff organized the delegation of the 2024 colombia national human rights prize winners to washington, dc, and new york. We organized meetings with the winners and u.s. Policymakers, congressional staff, civil society organizations, and un agencies and missions, as well as several public events. Wola wrote several analytical pieces regarding u.s.-colombia relations. Wola also traveled to colombia to support work focused on youth programs, human rights training, and services for internally displaced people and survivors of domestic violence. During the year, wola took action concerning trans rights in the americas, such as the highly publicized brutal killing of sara millerey in colombia. As the only member of the coalition for global equality focused on…

   $295,097 spent$24,115 earned by the program
   16% of program spending

3. Venezuela - wola's venezuela program in 2025 continued to document and respond to venezuela's deepening democratic and human rights crisis following the 2024 elections. This work emphasized supporting human rights defenders inside and outside of venezuela, preserving civic space, and assessing the impact of u.s. Policies. As a part of this work, we prepared a report on venezuela's crisis one year after the elections. In coordination with international organizations and local partners, wola participated in a hearing before the inter-american commission on human rights, raising concerns about attacks on human rights defenders and the implementation of laws that restrict ngos. Wola supported work in the u.s. Congress regarding the preserving accountability for national assets (pana) act which would create a mechanism for the venezuelan people to benefit from the recovery of assets seized in the u.s. From corrupt actors, in accordance with international standards.

   $244,368 spent
   13% of program spending

4. Central america - in 2025, wola's central america remained a key voice in washington on human rights, democracy, preservation of civic space, and the rule of law amid continued authoritarianism across the region. Wola director for central america testified in the u.s. House of representatives on laws regulating ngos in el salvador and nicaragua, as well as on the human rights implications of legal harassment against civil society and the prolonged state of exception in el salvador. In the lead-up to the november 2025 general elections in honduras, wola advocated for a free and transparent electoral process. Our team monitored pre-electoral conditions and the march primary elections and supported bipartisan legislation directing the secretary of state to develop a comprehensive strategy to monitor and oversee the election. In el salvador, wola supported a senate resolution requesting a report on the government's compliance with internationally recognized human rights and raised concerns over torture and inhumane prison conditions. Across the region, wola continued to elevate regional voices, document violations, and press the u.s. Government and international actors to uphold…

   $243,736 spent
   13% of program spending

5. Drug policy - wola advocates for policies in the u.s. And globally that mitigate the harms caused by the illicit drug trade and by punitive drug policies, prioritizing public health and responsible drug regulation. In 2025, wola participated in the annual session of the un commission on narcotic drugs, moderating and co-sponsoring side events focused on the human rights impacts of synthetic drugs, coca leaf policy, and the environmental harms linked to drug trafficking and extractive activities. A key outcome of the session was the adoption of a colombia-led resolution establishing an expert panel to review the un drug control system. Wola carried out advocacy on the boat strikes by u.s. Military forces against alleged drug traffickers in the caribbean and eastern pacific, including congressional outreach, a real-time tracker of the boat strikes, and multiple joint events.

   $230,351 spent
   12% of program spending

6. Mexico - in 2025, wola's mexico program continued to advocate for judicial independence, raising concerns about mexico's june judicial elections by popular vote. Wola participated in a major delegation urging congress to adopt a public health approach to drug consumption, highlighted the need for a new framework in u.s.-mexico cooperation, and raised concerns about proposals to use military force to combat fentanyl trafficking. Wola published a q&a piece in february and recorded podcast in march in response to the trump administration's designation of six mexican criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations (ftos), highlighting effective and rights-respecting alternative proposals to address the fentanyl overdose crisis. Wola staff traveled to oaxaca, mexico city, and tijuana to participate in seminars and conferences on organized crime, human rights, and migration, as well as meeting with ngo partners, experts, u.s. Embassy staff, media correspondents, and others. Wola published "the era of women": challenges and priorities in the women's human rights agenda in mexico,to assess claudia sheinbaum's election as mexico's first female president, her pledges to advance women's…

   $221,590 spent
   12% of program spending

7. Border security and migration - in 2025, wola's border security and migration program informed u.s. Political discourse and shaped the conversation through rapid analysis, public education, and advocacy. Our weekly border updates continued to serve as a trusted source for journalists, congressional staff, and civil society on dynamics at the u.s.-mexico border, abuses against migrants and asylum seekers in the u.s. And beyond, and regional trends in migration, enforcement, the dangers of using military personnel for border and migration missions, and border security. A mid-year, three-country research trip focused on what can be learned from people being deported, shed early light on the severity of abuses that migrants are suffering while in department of homeland security custody. Wola testified in congress in opposition of the u.s. "remain in mexico" policy.

   $213,124 spent
   11% of program spending

The 7 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $1,863,509.