The U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a forum on human rights in Colombia. This session was held in coordination with the Latin America Working Group Education Fund and Peace Brigades International.

Colombia

This event is part of a series of conversations known as the Colombia Peace Forum (CFP). The CPF, established following the launch of Colombia's peace process, brings together government, non-governmental, and diplomatic sectors to discuss themes related to peace and the internal armed conflict in Colombia, as well as related U.S. foreign policy issues.

The program brought together Colombian human rights advocates who are in Washington, D.C. for the meetings of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights at the Organization of American States. We asked our colleagues to reflect on the peace process and the challenges and opportunities it presents for human rights and those who advocate for them.

Speakers

Liliana Avila
Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace/
Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz

Franklin Castañeda
Political Prisoners' Solidarity Committee/
Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos (CSPP)

Alejandro Malambo
Colombian Commission of Jurists/
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas

Luz Marina Monzón
To Begin Again/
Reiniciar

Jomary Ortegón
José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective Corporation/
Corporación Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo (CCAJAR)

George Lopez, Welcoming Remarks
Vice President, Academy for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, U.S. Institute of Peace

Virginia M. Bouvier, Moderator
Senior Program Officer, Special Initiatives on Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace

Related Publications

Steve Hege on Restorative Justice and Colombia’s Search for Missing Persons

Steve Hege on Restorative Justice and Colombia’s Search for Missing Persons

Monday, October 21, 2024

More than 100,000 Colombians have been forcibly disappeared over the last six decades. Finding their remains is “tremendously healing” and can “repair the social fabric” by giving closure to the victims’ loved ones and allowing former armed actors “to regain their own dignity” by contributing to the process, says USIP’s Steve Hege.

Type: Podcast

Cartographie du chemin de la justice en Haïti : Leçons de la Colombie et du Guatemala

Cartographie du chemin de la justice en Haïti : Leçons de la Colombie et du Guatemala

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Le nouveau gouvernement intérimaire d'Haïti fait face à des défis immenses, mais aucun n'est aussi urgent que de briser l'emprise des gangs sur la capitale du pays, Port-au-Prince. La force seule ne suffira pas à apporter la paix, même avec l'arrivée de la mission multinationale de soutien à la sécurité dirigée par le Kenya, de taille modeste. Le pays a plutôt besoin de mécanismes créatifs et globaux impliquant toute la société — et non seulement l'ensemble du gouvernement — pour détourner les membres des gangs du crime et de la violence dans le cadre d'une stratégie globale de lutte contre les gangs.

Type: Analysis

Justice, Security & Rule of LawReconciliation

Mapping Haiti’s Road Toward Justice: Lessons from Colombia and Guatemala

Mapping Haiti’s Road Toward Justice: Lessons from Colombia and Guatemala

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Haiti’s new interim government faces immense challenges, but none are as urgent as breaking the stranglehold that gangs have over the country’s capital, Port au Prince. Force alone will not bring peace, even with the arrival of the modestly-sized and Kenyan-led multinational security support mission. The country instead requires creative, whole-of-society — not just whole-of-government — mechanisms to divert gang members from crime and violence as part of a comprehensive counter-gang strategy.

Type: Analysis

Justice, Security & Rule of LawReconciliation

China-Colombia Relations are Growing, if Slowly

China-Colombia Relations are Growing, if Slowly

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Beijing in October amounted to a notable — if quite small — step forward for China and Colombia, building on growing trade and other ties, while also laying the groundwork for cooperation on issues, such as media and security, which China has promoted across the region.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

View All Publications