The government’s peace accord with the former FARC rebels presents a historic opportunity to work towards the construction of a democratic Colombia that addresses the wrongs of the past and charts a new course toward equality, justice, and prosperity. At the heart of this process are human rights defenders and civil society organizations, who play a vital role in addressing the underlying economic and social root causes of violence and holding stakeholders accountable to the commitments of the accords.

Speakers at the Colombia Peace Forum event on February 14, 2018.

Despite progress in the accords’ implementation, ensuring human right defenders have the ability to play this critical role remains uncertain. The peace process is being jeopardized by the expansion of organized criminal groups and the remaining ELN armed rebels into territories previously controlled by the FARC. The recent wave of attacks against social leaders and human rights defenders remains a critical challenge to security.

The U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and the Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF) hosted the leading Colombian human rights defenders. They discussed the challenges they face in their communities and the role they play in engaging regional institutions, local authorities and diverse social sectors to secure lasting peace in Colombia. This year’s speakers were the winners of the 2017 Colombia National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights granted by the international community and organized by the Swedish humanitarian agency Diakonia. 

USIP, LAWGEF and WOLA served as jurors for the 2017 prize and will co-sponsor the event. Review the conversation on Twitter with #ColombiaPeaceForum.

Speakers

Carla Koppell
Vice President, Center for Applied Conflict Transformation, U.S. Institute of Peace

Steve Hege, Moderator
Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights

Enrique Chimonja
Winner, Defender of the Year, Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz

Angélica Ortiz
Winner, Social Collective Process of the Year, Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuú

Iván Madero Vergel
Winner, Collective Process of the Year, NGO Level, Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CREDHOS)

Socorro Acero Bautista
Winner, Recognition of “Lifetime” Defender
Comité Permanente por la defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Colombia (CPDH)

Gimena Sánchez, Commentator
Director for the Andes, Washington Office on Latin America
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights

Lisa Haugaard, Commentator
Executive Director, Latin American Working Group
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights

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