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A police officer stands guard at the Candelaria, in central Bogota. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

A police officer stands guard at the Candelaria, in central Bogota. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

In a statement, the World Council of Churches Executive Committee expressed deep concern over the exceptional concurrent crises in Latin America. “Among other situations of concern, Brazil is facing a complex crisis of political and social polarization, affecting the rule of law, human rights and environmental protection, and diminishing civil society space, while Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay, Peru and Argentina have all experienced mass protests and political crises that have shaken their governments, economies and societies,” the statement reads. “In some cases, such as in Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Colombia, popular protests have resulted in violent clashes and deaths.”

The WCC called upon governments in Latin America to “support and strengthen the institutions of democracy and the rule of law, and to protect the political space for civil society,” and to “listen to the voices of the people.”

Read full statement