Chile
In early 2026, Chile remains one of the most stable democracies in the Americas. However, the human rights landscape is currently in a state of high tension due to a significant political shift: the election of far-right leader José Antonio Kast, who is set to assume the presidency in March 2026. This transition has brought issues of migration, indigenous rights, and police reform to the forefront of national debate.
1. Migration and Refugee Rights
Migration has become the most pressing human rights issue as the new administration prepares to take office.
Mass Expulsion Threats: President-elect Kast has vowed to expel approximately 336,000 irregular migrants (mostly Venezuelans) by March 2026. This has triggered a humanitarian rush at the northern border near Arica, as migrants attempt to leave for Peru or elsewhere to avoid forced deportation.
Militarized Borders: Both Chile and Peru have deployed military forces to their shared border. Human rights observers have raised alarms regarding the welfare of families, including children, stranded in the Atacama Desert without adequate food, water, or legal recourse.
Humanitarian Corridors: There is ongoing debate regarding a proposed "return corridor" to Venezuela, though critics fear this may lead to refoulement (forcibly returning refugees to a country where they face persecution).
2. Indigenous Rights and the Mapuche Conflict
The "Southern Macrozone" (Araucanía and Biobío) continues to be a site of intense land disputes and violence.
Escalation of Conflict: The Mapuche people, who make up about 12% of the population, fear a return to dictatorship-era repression. Kast has proposed repealing the Indigenous Law, closing the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI), and potentially withdrawing Chile from ILO Convention 169, which protects indigenous land and consultation rights.
Reparation Stalls: While outgoing President Gabriel Boric proposed a "Commission for Peace and Understanding" in 2025 to return nearly 500,000 hectares of land, the incoming administration’s focus on "eradicating terrorism" through military force suggests these restorative efforts may be halted.
3. Police Reform and Accountability
Chile continues to grapple with the legacy of the 2019 social uprising and current concerns over organized crime.
The "Naín-Retamal" Law: Legislation passed in recent years established a "legal presumption of self-defense" for police (Carabineros) using their weapons. The UN has warned this hinders accountability and may favor impunity in cases of excessive force.
Impunity for Past Abuses: While a few high-profile convictions occurred in 2024-2025 for 2019 protest violations, many cases remain stalled. There is concern that the new administration will prioritize security over the stalled police reform process, which sought to increase civilian oversight.
4. Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Chile has made progress in recent years, but significant "chilling effects" remain.
Conscientious Objection: Although abortion is legal in three specific cases (risk to life, fetal inviability, or rape), "institutional conscientious objection" remains a major barrier. In some public hospitals, nearly 100% of obstetricians refuse to perform the procedure, effectively denying rights to rural and low-income patients.
Legislative Threats: Conservative members of Congress have proposed bills to further restrict the existing 2017 abortion law, creating a precarious environment for reproductive healthcare providers in 2026.
5. Truth, Justice, and Memory
The search for those disappeared during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990) continues.
National Search Plan: In late 2025, irregularities were reported in the software and implementation of the National Search Plan. Families of the disappeared are currently advocating for guaranteed funding and state commitment to ensure the search continues regardless of the change in government.
Rescinding Pensions: The government recently rescinded several "grace pensions" granted to victims of the 2019 protests if those individuals had prior criminal records, a move criticized by human rights groups as politicizing the right to reparation.