In 2025, APG redoubled our advocacy work for rights and justice in solidarity with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through our Mesoamerica and South America Working Groups, APG coordinated campaigns, engaged with governments, and mobilized solidarity with threatened human rights protectors, water defenders and mining-affected communities. We continued to amplify the voices of those who will be impacted by a free trade agreement that Canada negotiated with Ecuador amidst a worsening human rights crisis. We also advocated for action by Canada to avoid complicity in unlawful U.S. military attacks on civilian vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

[Art work: Rachel Lim]

In 2024, APG continued its work of advocacy for human rights, environmental justice, and democracy in Latin America. Key efforts included opposing the Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement and coordinating a Ecuadorian Indigenous Woman delegation to Canada, supporting the release of water defenders in El Salvador, and defending democracy in Guatemala. Through its Mesoamerica and South America working groups, APG coordinated campaigns, engaged with governments, and mobilized solidarity.

The advocacy work of APG this year focused on human rights violations in El Salvador, the elections in Guatemala, and challenges to democracy in Colombia, in addition to numerous other cases. Independently or in coalition with others, APG prepared ten submissions and letters to GAC, meet three times with Embassy officials, supported seven speaking tours to Canada, and published two Opinion Editorials in national news outlets, and participated in a Fact-Finding Mission to El Salvador.

Highlights of the year included the Mesoamerica Working Group contributions to the Mexico-Canada Bi-laterial Dialogue on Human Rights, and engagement with Canadian embassies and GAC officials related to concerns raised by partners in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The Colombia group focused on the risks to human rights and environmental defenders, oppression of marginalized communities, and Canada’s foreign and trade policy with Colombia.

After almost 40 years a part of CCIC (now Cooperation Canada) and much internal deliberation, the APG separated into an independent federally-incorporated not-for-profit organization in August, 2020.Two dozen international development and humanitarian organizations, human rights organizations, labour unions, research institutions, faith-based and solidarity groups joined the newly-independent coalition.