Colombia
From the field Colombia: A new chance for peace?
At the beginning of November FARC leader Alfonso Cano was killed by Colombian military forces and his death is certainly a victory for the Colombian military. Peace organisations in the country, such as Colombianas y colombianos por la paz, stress that in spite of military victory, political negotiation and social justice need to be used to establish peace and stability in Colombia. Read more >>>
Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado (MOVICE)
The Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado (MOVICE; ‘Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes’ in English), was born in 2005 in response to the continuation of the armed conflict and impunity for crimes committed during the conflict in Colombia. The movement seeks to highlight the plight of the victims, to give the victims a [...] Read more >>>
Asociación de trabajadores campesinos del Huila (ATCH)
The Asociación de Trabajadores Campesinos del Huila (ATCH) was founded with the vision of creating an organisation to serve the needs of the rural population. The Asociación enables the interests of Huila’s rural population to be expressed as one, and as such increases the involvement of the population in the decision making process for issues that [...] Read more >>>
Justapaz
The Christian Centre for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action – Justapaz – seeks to embody and serve nonviolence through programs working towards transforming Colombia into a just and peaceful state. Since its establishment in 1990, Justapaz has worked to promote nonviolence, peacebuilding, and the positive transformation of conflict. It has developed a broad range of [...] Read more >>>
From the field Interview with a Leader of a Peace Community in Urabá, Colombia
Jesús Emilio Tuberquia is a leader of the San José de Apartadó Peace Community in Urabá, northwest Colombia. The Urabá region has lived a bloody recent history – a history that is yet to reach its end. It is a heavily militarised zone with a strong presence from guerrilla, army and paramilitary forces. Urabá acted as the launch pad for the savage paramilitary expansion across Colombia in 1997. In February 2005 the Peace Community suffered a now infamous massacre in which paramiltary forces combined with the Colombian army to brutally murder 8 civilians, including several children. Read more >>>
Fundación Villa Rica
Founded in 2004, the Fundación Villa Rica has at its core the aim of strengthening community organisation in Villa Rica and as such promotes community-led efforts to find solutions and alternatives to both the causes and effects of the country’s conflict. Young people are a fundamental focus for the Foundation as it seeks to offer [...] Read more >>>
Asociación de Campesinos del Bajo Cauca (ASOCBAC)
The Asociación de campesinos del Bajo Cauca (ASOCBAC) is a peasant farmer organisation working with the communities of Bajo Cauca and its surrounding areas. Formed in 2008, ASOCBAC offers a political and social alternative and seeks to become a decisive actor in the overcoming of the armed and social conflict – the consequences of which [...] Read more >>>
Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó
The Global Campus and the Peace Community San José de Apartadó, Colombia – by Ede Müller from Grace Media on Vimeo. This video is also available in Spanish. The Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó (Peace Village of San José de Apartadó) is a community of around 1,500 people in North-west Colombia that [...] Read more >>>
Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CPDH)
El Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CPDH – ‘The Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights’ in English) was created out of the first National Forum for the Defence of Human Rights and Democratic Liberties, which took place in Bogotá in 1979. The CPDH has since been at the forefront [...] Read more >>>
From the field Presidential elections in Colombia: More of the same?
Colombian voters will elect a new President this month; the controversial reign of Álvaro Uribe will come to an end. The first round of voting took place at the end of May and the two remaining candidates will learn their fate as voters once again take to the urns. In one corner is the close Uribe ally and ex-Minister of Defence Juan Manuel Santos. In the rival corner is the surprise phenomenon, the ex-Mayor of Bogotá, Antanas Mockus. Read more >>>
