Colectivo de Mujeres Pazíficas

A Colombian women's organisation working ito address issues concerning women that arise from the conflict in the Cali region. It aims to educate, empower, and promote women and women's issues to the public, policy-makers, and the national and international media.

Overview

The Colectivo de Mujeres Pazíficas (CMP or ‘the Collective’) arose as an answer to the worsening of the Colombian armed conflict. Its membership is largely drawn from feminist women who have participated for a long time in various other social organisations.

The Collective is a group network that started in 2002 in the city of Cali as a result of concern about the situation of women in the midst of the armed conflict. Its stated aim is to make visible and report these violations to society, the Colombian government, and the international community.

There have been many campaigns and several other activities which have been run in order to impact, influence, and raise awareness in the mass media, the State, and society according to the Collective’s objectives.

The CMP has taken upon itself the responsibility to create educational and action spaces for women of the Cali region around the foundational points of: feminism, power, participation and State, pacifism, and non-violence.

What Services Are Provided?

• Education and training in political participation: in political campaigning, in demonstrations, by raising awareness and knowledge of political rights, and by educating women in how they can ensure they are given full attention by representatives of their government;
• Consultancy and training with a gender perspective in interaction with the mass media;
• The design of public campaigns, press releases, performances, and consultancies to raise awareness of the issues with which the Collective is concerned, and to impact and influence the public; and
• The organisation and facilitation of workshops, round-table discussions, seminars, and dialogues to reflect gender perspectives on and feminist discourses around International Humanitarian Law, pacifism, civil resistance, non-violence, negotiation, and the forced displacement of women.

Geographical Area of Operation

Cali, Colombia

Funding Resources

• Banco Mundial;
• Personal contribution from Mrs. Helena Garces;
• Kellogs Foundation through legal representation of Foundation Paz y Bien;
• Peace Direct.

What Further Information Would You Like?

• Information from and dialogue with organisations with similar experiences to the those of the Collective.
• Contacts with funding agencies and donors.
• Technical assistance on the design and maintenance of web pages.

What New Contacts Would You Like To Make?

• National and international organisations that address women’s rights, feminism, nonviolence and pacifism;
• Similar experiences to the ones of the Collective;
• Funding agencies and donors interested their work.

Associated Organisations

Based on relationships of support and solidarity, the Colectivo de Mujeres Pazíficas associate with the following organisations:

• Casa Cultural Tejiendo Sonoridades;
• Centro Cultural El Chontaduro;
• Fundación Sí Mujer;
• Fundación Mavi;
• Fundación Paz y Bien;
• Teatro La Máscara.