Latin America

AFSC's programs in Latin America focus on issues of forced migration and displacement, peacebuilding, and youth organizing. Our staff also collaborate with other AFSC programs to engage and inform the public in the United States, as well as strengthening advocacy actions. 

Civic space during the pandemic

The overall outlook of the civic space and freedom in the region is bleak and more restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Freedoms of speech, association, and peaceful assembly deteriorated and are under constant threat by government authorities. The most reported violations are intimidation, harassment, attacks on journalists, detention of protesters, and the excessive use of force against protests. This context has been used to dispossess Indigenous communities of their territories through violent evictions and persecution of community leaders, organizations, and human rights defenders. Legislative bodies have tried to move forward agendas that restrict space for peacebuilding. Governments have also used strategies to weaken civil society organizations and protests against the government, and have  prevented migrants heading up to the United States from organizing to protest. 

Source: https://findings2020.monitor.civicus.org/americas.html. For more information, read CIVICUS Monitor’s comprehensive report.

Learn more about AFSC's programs in Latin America:

• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Mexico