WOLA’s 2025 Human Rights Awards Month – Washington Office on Latin America | WOLA

Report on Senator Tim Kaine’s Legislative Focus on Latin America and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Foundational Experience and Commitment to Sustainable Development

Senator Tim Kaine’s legislative approach to Latin America is significantly influenced by his early personal experiences in the region. His work in Honduras in the 1980s provided direct insight into socio-economic and political challenges that align with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Witnessing repression against social leaders in Honduras has informed his commitment to protecting fundamental freedoms and promoting justice.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): His time in El Progreso, a center for social justice movements, exposed him to the deep-seated inequalities faced by marginalized communities. The use of community radio to reach the poor further highlights a commitment to inclusive development.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The region’s history of labor struggles on banana plantations provided a foundation for understanding the importance of fair labor practices and economic justice.

Legislative Priorities and Contribution to Global Goals

Throughout his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Kaine has championed legislative efforts that directly support the achievement of the SDGs in the Americas. His policy focus can be categorized as follows:

1. Supporting Democratic Institutions: In alignment with SDG 16, a primary focus of his work is to fortify democratic governance and the rule of law across Latin America.
2. Protecting Human Rights: His legislative initiatives consistently advocate for the protection of human rights, a cornerstone of both SDG 16 and SDG 10, aiming to build peaceful, inclusive societies.
3. Addressing Corruption: Senator Kaine actively promotes policies to combat corruption, directly contributing to Target 16.5 of the SDGs, which calls for substantially reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article. The text highlights Senator Kaine’s legislative efforts to “support democratic institutions, protect human rights, and address corruption.” It also references historical and ongoing issues in Latin America such as “repression against social leaders,” “civil war and internal armed conflicts,” and the “movement for social justice,” all of which are core components of SDG 16’s mission to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article makes a specific reference to the history of El Progreso, Honduras, which includes “labor struggles on banana plantations.” This directly connects to SDG 8, which aims to promote decent work for all and protect labor rights.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. This is relevant due to the mention of “civil war and internal armed conflicts” in neighboring countries and “repression” in Honduras.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This is connected to the description of El Progreso as the “heart of the movement for social justice” and Kaine’s work to “protect human rights.”
   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. This is explicitly identified in the article, which states that Senator Kaine’s policies aim to “address corruption across the Americas.”
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. This is directly addressed by the mention of Kaine’s consistent championing of policies that “support democratic institutions.”
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. This is linked to the “repression against social leaders” and the mention of the Jesuit-led radio station used to “reach poor communities,” which represents a form of public access to information.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The historical reference to “labor struggles on banana plantations” points directly to issues concerning the rights and working conditions of laborers, which this target aims to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention any explicit quantitative indicators. However, the issues discussed imply several indicators that would be used to measure progress:

• Implied Indicators for SDG 16

  • Indicator 16.1.2: Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population. This is implied by the references to “civil war and internal armed conflicts.” Progress would be measured by a reduction in these deaths.
  • Indicator 16.5.1: Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials. This is implied by the stated goal to “address corruption.”
  • Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates. This is strongly implied by the phrase “repression against social leaders.” Measuring a decrease in such cases would indicate progress.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 8

  • Indicator 8.8.2: Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining). The mention of “labor struggles” implies a context where these rights may not be fully respected, making their level of compliance a key measure of progress.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: wola.org