Dr. Carolina Jiménez Sandoval is a prominent human rights defender and civil society leader with over 20 years of experience in managing non-profit organizations, advocating for human rights, and shaping strategies to advance social justice. She currently serves as the President of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) in Washington, D.C., where she provides organizational leadership and direction to a team of dedicated researchers and advocates. Before this, she served as the Deputy Research Director for the Americas at Amnesty International in Mexico City, where she oversaw a team of researchers documenting human rights violations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. With expertise in international human rights law, Latin American politics, and international relations, Dr. Jiménez Sandoval has been instrumental in fostering strategic partnerships, advocating for policy change, and amplifying marginalized voices on the global stage. Dr. Jimenez Sandoval holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from Waseda University, along with degrees in International Relations and International Law and Business, from the University of Cambridge in the UK and Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan, respectively. 

*Originally published in 2024 and preserved as part of our archive project. E-International Relations is free to read. We rely on reader support to make this possible.

Where do you see the most critical debates happening in your field?

In my view, the most critical issues facing Latin American advocates are related to setbacks in democracy. At the beginning of this century, democracy seemed like a political and social promise for populations that had suffered brutal dictatorships and civil wars in the 20th century. Still, more recently, we have witnessed a hemispheric shift in attitudes towards democracy. According to Latinobarómetro, in 2023, only 48% of Latin Americans supported democracy in the region, down 15% from 63% in 2010. As governments address increasingly complex issues, such as regional migration, the growing power of organized crime, and threats to public safety, citizens are more willing to follow a “strong leader" who promises accelerated results, even if the acceptance of these leaders implies giving up certain rights and democratic practices. 

How has the way you understand the world changed over time, and what (or who) prompted the most significant shifts in your thinking?

Studying international relations involves constantly trying to understand the world. This has led me to continuously seek reliable and independent information and understand the "pulse" of social, political, and economic changes worldwide through in-depth analysis. Therefore, if anything has defined how I see and analyze the world, it is having had the privilege of access to education, especially international education, learning several languages, and experiencing life in cultures different from the culture or country in which I was born. Understanding differences and embracing diversity impacts us in many ways.

How would you describe the state of democracy and human rights in Latin America?

The state of democracy and human rights in Latin America is worrisome. We are witnessing democratic backsliding at an alarming rate throughout the region. Many countries are also experiencing profound polarization as political parties support and promote controversial anti-establishment candidates. At this moment in time, autocratic leaders such as Nayib Bukele in El Salvador have gained immense popularity for their ability to provide quick and easy responses to complex problems, often at the expense of civil rights. In the meantime, in countries like Venezuela or Nicaragua, despite the unpopularity of their leaders, repression and lack of democratic guarantees have consolidated their power. 

Serious human rights violations continue to take place in Latin America. In El Salvador, the state of exception established by President Nayib Bukele two years ago after a violent weekend in March of 2022 is still in place, and we have seen over 73,000 people arrested, including 1,600 children. The use of collective trials, as well as the expansion of pretrial detention, is a recipe for........

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