Human Rights Defenders in Colombia: Experiences on the ground

international | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Thursday September 26, 2013 13:26 by Latin American Solidarity Centre (LASC) events at lasc dot ie Connolly Books, 43 East Essex Street, Dublin 2 +353-1-6760435

Thursday, October 3rd, 18:00 @Connolly Books, 43 East Essex Street, Dublin 2

LASC and Front Line Defenders are delighted to share some stories of activiest in order to celebrate the role of human rights defenders in Colombia and Irish support for their initiatives

Human Rights Defenders in Colombia: Experiences on the ground

Colombia has by far one of the most worrying human rights crises in Latin America, exacerbated in the context of a six decades long armed conflict and ongoing land grabbing violence. Yet, at the same time, Colombia has one of the most vibrant civil societies in the hemisphere, where human rights defenders play a prominent role. Colombian Human Rights organisations are a constant source of inspiration for many around the world; one of its main strengths is the extent to which its network reaches remote villages and covers the entire country.

So both Lasc Solidarity (the Latin American Solidarity Centre) and Front Line Defenders are delighted to share some of these stories in order to celebrate the role of human rights defenders in Colombia and Irish support for their initiatives.

Niamh Ni Bhriain: She is a former Frank Jennings Intern with Front Line Defenders and went to work in Colombia in human rights accompaniment with Peace Brigades International. She most recently worked with LASC in Pitalito, Cesar, Northeastern Colombia, where she was accompanying and supporting the efforts of a displaced community to return and settle back again in their land. She will let us know of her experience working on the ground and LASC campaign of accompaniment and support in Pitalito.

Adam Shapiro: He is the head of campaigns in Front Line Defenders and is recently back from Colombia, where he met well-known political prisoner David Rabelo Crespo and launched a TV Public Service Announcement campaign to highlight to TV audience in towns the important work of human rights defenders. This campaign will follow up on the work already carried out last year on radio stations. More on the campaign can be found at http://radiohrd.org/colombia/

José Antonio Gutiérrez: He is the research and development officer in LASC. He will explore the current social and political landscape in Colombia, highlighting the complex scenario in which human rights defenders have to operate. A recent agrarian strike and the heavy handed official response to it, are some indication of the difficulties ahead and the need to strengthen support to those taking a stand for full respect to human rights.