Bolivia
As of early 2026, Bolivia is navigating a major political and institutional transition. Following 20 years of governance by the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, the November 2025 election resulted in the inauguration of Rodrigo Paz (center-right), marking a significant shift in the country's human rights and judicial landscape.
The following are the primary human rights issues in Bolivia currently:
1. Judicial Reform and Political Detainees
For years, Bolivia’s judiciary was criticized for being highly politicized. The new administration has made "depoliticizing" the courts a stated priority.
Release of High-Profile Prisoners: In late 2025, the Supreme Court annulled the sentence of former interim president Jeanine Áñez, leading to her release. Other figures, such as former governor Luis Fernando Camacho, have seen their cases move toward re-examination after years of what international bodies called "arbitrary detention."
New Arrests: In a "reversal of roles," former President Luis Arce was arrested in December 2025 on corruption charges. Observers are closely watching to see if these proceedings follow due process or represent a new cycle of judicial retaliation.
Institutional Overhaul: President Paz announced the closure of the Ministry of Justice in late 2025 as part of a plan to grant the judiciary total independence from the executive branch.
2. Indigenous Land Rights and Environmental Justice
Despite constitutional protections for the "Rights of Mother Earth," conflicts over land and resources remain intense.
The Tariquía Reserve: As of early 2026, a major standoff exists in the Tariquía Reserve. While the government officially denies new gas exploration projects there, local indigenous communities and park rangers report encroachments, leading to protests and legal challenges.
Titling vs. Protection: While some groups, like the Tacana II, finally received legal titles to their ancestral lands in late 2025, they continue to report "land invasions" by illegal gold miners and loggers, highlighting a lack of state enforcement in remote areas.
Wildfire Accountability: Record-breaking wildfires in 2024 and 2025 destroyed millions of hectares. Human rights groups are currently pressuring the government to investigate "arson for land-clearing" and to repeal laws that facilitate industrial-scale deforestation.
3. Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Bolivia continues to have one of the highest rates of femicide and sexual violence in South America.
Child Marriage Ban: In a historic victory in September 2025, Bolivia passed Law No. 1639, which bans child marriage and early unions without exception. This closed a legal loophole that previously allowed girls to marry at 16 with parental consent.
Impunity Gap: Despite the existence of Law 348 (the comprehensive law against gender violence), advocates report that roughly 80% of cases do not result in a conviction due to corruption and "revictimization" within the police and court systems.
Femicide Trends: While reported femicides saw a slight decrease in 2024–2025, the total remains alarming, with roughly 80–90 cases registered annually.
4. Suppression of Human Rights Defenders
The transition period has been dangerous for activists.
Attacks on NGOs: Organizations like the Permanent Assembly on Human Rights in Bolivia (APDHB) have faced physical occupations of their offices by pro-government mobs in the past. While the new administration has pledged protection, defenders of land and territory in mining regions remain at high risk of physical threats.
Freedom of Expression: Under the previous administration, several journalists faced "judicial harassment." The current government has pledged to end these practices, but the media remains highly polarized and susceptible to economic pressure from state advertising.
5. Prison Crisis and Pretrial Detention
Overcrowding: Prisons like Chonchocoro and Palmasola operate at over 300% capacity.
Pretrial Rates: As of 2026, nearly 65% of the prison population has not been convicted of a crime. The use of pretrial detention as a "first resort" rather than a last one is a systemic issue the new judicial reform aims to address.