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With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, here's a quick rundown of some recent reports on security and human rights in Mexico and Colombia that are a "must-read." Colombia:

• Still Waiting for Justice (PDF) - U.S. Office on Colombia - By Kelly Nicholls and Diana Arango Explains the challenges facing the Santos Administration to overcome the alarming level of impunity for human rights cases in Colombia and how the U.S. government can help.
• Mid-level commanders of the FARC and the process of demobilization in the Colombian conflict (Mandos medios de las FARC y su proceso de desmovilización en el conflicto colombiano) (PDF) - Ideas Para La Paz - By Gerson Iván Arias, Natalia Herrera and Carlos Andrés Prieto Aims to identify and analyze the importance of the demobilization and reintegration process of the middle command of the FARC.
• President Santos's Conflict Resolution Opportunity - International Crisis Group Examines the shortcomings of the Uribe government's endeavors to defeat insurgent groups and achieve and consolidate security and recommends that the new chief executive, Juan Manuel Santos, complement military and citizen-security policy by pushing ahead on vital institutional and structural reforms that address problems of illegality, impunity and inequality.
• Cautious Optimism for Peace in Colombia - U.S. Institute of Peace - By Virginia Bouvier Explains the unique set of peacemaking challenges for the new Colombian administration and opportunities related to the country's internal armed conflict.
• Bojayá: The War Without Limits - Memoria Histórica de la Comisión Nacional de Reparación y Reconciliación Reconstructs the massacre of Bojaya in which 79 people died during an armed confrontation between the United Self Defenses of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and documents the direct responsibility in the massacre of the paramilitary and guerrilla groups as well as the Colombian state and armed forces.

Mexico

• Shared Responsibility: U.S.-Mexico Policy Options for Confronting Organized Crime (PDF) - Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Mexico Institute - Edited by Eric L. Olson, David A. Shirk, and Andrew Selee In almost 400 pages, this report examines specific challenges for security cooperation between the United States and Mexico including efforts to address the consumption of narcotics, money laundering, arms trafficking, intelligence sharing, police strengthening, judicial reform, civil-military relations, and the protection of journalists. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are some individual chapters:
  • U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Mexico: New Data and Insights Illuminate Key Trends and Challenges, by Colby Goodman (PDF)
  • Drug Trafficking Organizations and Counter-Drug Strategies in the U.S.-Mexican Context, by Luis Astorga and David A. Shirk (PDF)
  • Money Laundering and Bulk Cash Smuggling: Challenges for the Mérida Initiative, by Douglas Farah (PDF)
• Silence or Death in Mexico's Press: Crime, Violence, and Corruption Are Destroying the Country's Journalism - Committee to Protect Journalists - By Carlos Lauría and Mike O'Connor The drug traffickers, violent criminals, and corrupt officials who threaten Mexico's future have killed, terrorized, and co-opted journalists, knowing that controlling the flow of information will further their needs. They have been increasingly successful, and the results have been devastating.
• Abused and Afraid in Ciudad Juarez: An Analysis of Human Rights Violations by the Military in Mexico - Washington Office on Latin America - By Maureen Meyer Focuses on human rights violations that occurred in Ciudad Juarez in the context of Joint Operation Chihuahua, which began in March 2008. The five cases described in the report involve acts of torture, forced disappearance and sexual harassment of women by Mexican soldiers deployed in Ciudad Juarez.
• Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress (PDF) - Congressional Research Service - Clare Ribando Seelke Looks at issues of interest to the U.S. Congress, including an overview of the Mérida Initiative and U.S. assistance to Mexico, human rights issues, migration, and trade issues.