Colombia Initiatives

Día Internacional de la mujer
Con la Procuraduría General de la nación, el UNFPA, la UNICEF y la Mesa Interagencial de Género del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas, con ocasión del “día Internacional de la mujer”, tiene el gusto de invitarle, el próximo 7 de marzo, de 8:30 a 11:00 en el salón Rojo del Hotel Tequendama, a la presentación de las recientes recomendaciones del Comité de la CEDAW - Convención sobre la eliminación de todas las formas de discriminación contra la mujer- al Estado colombiano y su respectivo seguimiento. La Procuraduría también presenta el Modelo de vigilancia superior a la garantía de los derechos desde una perspectiva de género, con énfasis en adolescentes y mujeres.
Esperamos contar con su presencia
La Confluencia Nacional de Redes de Mujeres: conformada:
Red de Educación Popular entre Mujeres – REPEM;
Red Nacional de Mujeres;
Fundación de Apoyo Comunitario – FUNDAC;
Liga Internacional de Mujeres por la Paz y la Libertad – LIMPAL COLOMBIA;
Corporación Humanas;
Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir – Colombia;
Red Mujer y Participación Política;
Liga Internacional de Mujeres por la Paz y la Libertad;
LIMPAL COLOMBIA

Colombia - Murder and Alleged Rape of Minor Girls
The International Secretariat of OMCT is deeply concerned about the information received from reliable sources concerning the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano, and the alleged rape of another 14-year-old girl, by members of the Colombian army in the rural area of the municipality of Argelia, East of Antioquia Department. According to the information the corpse of Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano was left in a pasture near the house until the following day. Then some soldiers moved it to the municipality of Sonsón in order to carry out the corresponding legal proceedings, claiming the office of the public prosecutor had entitled them to do so, even though the administrative district of “El Plan” lies within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Argelia. Moreover Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano’s relatives are frightened and fear for their lives and their own integrity for having exposed facts involving law enforcement officers. The International Secretariat of OMCT condemns these utmost violent acts and urges the Colombian authorities to take the necessary measures to guarantee the security as well as the physical and psychological integrity of all members of Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano’s family and of the 14-year-old allegedly raped girl’s family in “Gitana”, Argelia. OMCT also requests the government to order a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of all these exposed acts.

Action requested:
Please write to the authorities in Colombia urging them to:
i. immediately take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the minor Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano’s family, as well as of the family of the 14-year-old girl, allegedly raped in “Gitana”;
ii. order a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the murder of Susana Patricia Galeano Galeano, and the alleged rape of the other 14-year-old girl in “Gitana”, both reportedly committed by forces of the regular army, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. immediately comply with the recommendations by international and regional human rights agencies, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards, in particular the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both ratified by Colombia, as well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Colombian Women Debate 1325
Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNIFEM, Colombian Social Movement
October-November 2004
The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Governmental Machinery for the Advancement of Women, and UNIFEM, will convene a debate panel on 29 October 2004 in Bogota, aimed at deepening understanding and implementation of Resolution 1325 by the Columbian Government. UNIFEM and the Colombian Social Movement, comprised of women's networks and organizations, will organize a public event on 2 November 2004 to mark the fourth anniversary of resolution 1325. The event will include the launch of a debate panel on 1325 organized by the Colombian Social Movement and the launch of a UNIFEM publication that explores Colombian women's initiatives for peace-building. The publication, titled "Colombian Women in Search of Peace: Initiatives and Proposals," addresses the impact armed conflict has had on Colombian women, with particular emphasis on forced displacement, sexual violence and sociopolitical violence. The study also recognizes the important role Colombian women have played in peace-building and lists a range of organizations, networks and initiatives involved in peace activities. For more information, contact Carmen de la Cruz, carmen.cruz@undp.org

International Gathering of Women Against War
Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres (Movement of Women Against War), Iniciativa de Mujeres Colombianas por la Paz
Tequendama Hotel, Bogota, 10 - 12 August 2004
Women from all over the world have expressed in various ways their claim to life and a resounding "no" to war. The Movement of Women Against War in Colombia had its start in 2002 with the national mobilization of 40,000 women in Bogota to call attention to the effects of the intensification of the conflict in the country. The International Gathering of Women Against War is the close of the first stage in the campaign for “demilitarization and recovery of civil life.” Thirty international delegates from 15 countries are expected to attend this gathering (Costa Rica, Spain, Russia, Georgia, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Chile, Bolivia, Mexico, Israel, El Salvador, Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua) along with 300 delegates from all regions of Colombia. The objective of the gathering is to create an agenda of common concerns of the national and international movements of women against war and to agree upon a level of development both global and local. For more information you can visit our website, or write to e-mail: comunicaciones@rutapacifica.org.co

Petition to Stop Fumigations-In-country
December, 2003
Mamacoca launched a petition urging the national government to stop the aerial fumigation with chemical mixtures being applied against Colombian peasants and indigenous communities. The request has been sent to the OAS Inter American Human Rights Court and the Colombian State Council, among others. To sign the petition click here. For more information on the fumigation issue click here. For more information visit Mamacoca (http://www.mamacoca.org)

March Agaisnt the War
November 25, 2003
On the Day for No Violence Against Women, women from the Colombian Movement Against the War will march to the Putumayo to reiterate their commitment to no war and no militarization of the civil life. The purpose is to express solidarity and support to the population of this region, which has been suffering from the struggles between the armed forces groups and fumigations. For more information visit Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace.

Civil Society Permanent Assembly for Peace – IV Plenary
October 9 to 11, 2003
The Civil Society Permanenet Assembly will held its IV Plenary in Bogota, focusing on the political solution of the conflict, human-rights, international humans rights, social policies and the international policy and its impact in Latin America. For more information visit Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace.

Peace Week “Without Reconciliation there is Not Future”
September 7 to 14, 2003
From September 7 to 14 2003 it will be held the Peace Week: Without Reconciliation there is not Future”. During the week different concerts, expositions, forums and conferences will be presented. Unfortunately, we don’t have more information about this Grand March in Colombia but we will keep updating it.

I Carry the Condom
September 2003
Profamilia jointly with Citytv launched a campaign that intends to promote women, specially young adolescents, to carry their own condoms to prevent them of no desire pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases. Based on a study, men forget using condon, although they carry it, in 60% of total sexual relations, resulting usually women the victim. However, when women carry the condon it is used in 100% of all cases. For more information visit Profamilia.

Demilitarization of the Civil Life
August 29, 2003
The largest women’s network, including the Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace, the National Women’s Network, Ruta Pacifica and Mesa de Concertacion de Mujeres, launched the Women’s Movement Against the War. The latter surged as a result of a law present to the Congress to extend the military service to women. Its first campaign consists in the demilitarization of the civil life. To read an article about the extension of the miitary service to women click here. For more information visit Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace.

S.O.S for ANMUCIC
August, 2003
The leaders of ANMUCIC (the National Campesin, Black and Indigeneous Women Association) have been victicms of retentions and threats by the paramilitary groups. In response, on August 2003, the Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace launched a solidarity campaign asking individuals and organizations to send a petition letter to diverse Colombian government leaders. The campaign asks the Government to compel paramilitary groups to repect the life, autonomy and women’s rights in accordance with the Humanitarian International Law. Clik here to read the petition letter. For more information visit Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace.

National Women’s March Against the War
July 25, 2002
More than 20 thousand women from different regions of the country marched to the "Plaza de Bolívar" with a clear slogan: "Not one more day, not one more peso, not one more man, not one more woman for war. Everything for life." In an act of rebellion against the war, collectively and peacefully, these women clearly proclaimed the objectives of their march: to strengthen a comprehensive women’s movement against the war; to plead for the demilitarization of civilian life and the return to civility; to press for political negotiations for a solution to the armed conflict; and to demand a renewal of peace talks with the direct and autonomous participation of women. The National Women’s Movilization Agaisnt the War comprise the following organizations, Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres, Iniciativas de Mujeres por la Paz, Red Nacional de Mujeres, Mesa de Concertación Nacional de Mujeres and Organización Femenina Popular. Click here for the final declaration. For more information visit Colombian Women’s Initiative for Peace.

Women’s Consultation for Peace
May 8-9, 2002
The Paz y Pais National Congress celebrated the “Women’s Consultation for Peace” with the aim of strengtherning the perspectives and participation of women within the peace process of Colombia. Some 120 women coming from Popayán, Medellín, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Tunja, Cundinamarca and Bogotá debated their peace actions against the armed conflict, aggravated upon the halt of the peace negotiations. The Women´s Consultation for Peace worked on three main points: the war process /peace and humanitarian agreements, the economic, social and cultural rights specially related to employment, social security and Plan Colombia, narcotraffic and illicit crops, and on democracy, political reform and women´s participation. To read more about the Women’s Consultation for Peace click here.
For the Final Declaration click here.

Campaign for Peace Dialogues
August, 2001
A coalition of Colombian organizations, including Paz Colombia, Redepaz, Mandato Ciudadano por la Paz, Fenalco, Planeta Paz, Asamblea Permanente por la Paz, among others, launched on August, 2001 a campaign in defense of the peace dialogues. Their aim is to demonstrate to the international community and Colombian poulation of the necesity to persist in the peace converastions with the armed groups to reach a pacific and political solution to the conflict. For more information visit Dialogues for Peace.

National Week for Peace
September 6 to 12, 1999
Under the slogan “To begin the Milenium, Let’s make peace”, a coalition of Colombian organizations, including Peace Programme, National Secretariat for Peace and Citizen Initiatives for Peace, organized the National Week for Peace. The purpose was the visibilization of the civil society as a peace-building actor by promoting reconciliation, social justice and peace. Unfortunately, we don’t have more information about this Grand March in Colombia but we will keep updating it.

First Grand March in Colombia
October 24, 1999
Colombian women’s organizations called for a Grand March to urge actors of the armed conflict to initiate negotiations, to establish a cease-fire and to respect the civil society. Unfortunately, we don’t have more information about this Grand March in Colombia but we will keep updating it.

Amnesty International Campaign: The Persecution of Women in Colombia
April, 2004
On October 16, 2003, Esperanza Amaris Miranda, a human rights defender active with the women's rights group, Organization Feminina Popular, was abducted from her home in Colombia and shot dead by paramilitary forces. As Colombia faces internal conflict at the hands of armed opposition groups, its government has labeled women and girl leaders, activists and human rights defenders as "guerilla collaborators" and therefore "legitimate targets" during warfare. Click Here to call on President Uribe of Colombia to bring justice to Esperanza Amaris Miranda and the hundreds of other women and girl activists who have been tortured and killed at the hands of opposition guerilla groups.

Helping Hands
2001
For the second year in a row, MADRE calls individuals world-wide to collect eyeglas ses, spanish-language books and health supplies for the women and children of Colombia. US-supported paramilitary forces are responsible for 75% of the country’s human rights violations, including about 3,500 killings each year and the displacement of more than two million people. The campaign intends to provide material necessities for women so they can support their families and comunities and challenge the structures that deny them their basic rights. Click here for the press release. For more information visit MADRE.