A delegation of seven Colombian women will visit Washington on July 23-27 to meet with members of Congress and discuss human rights, poverty and the impact of the pending trade agreement in Colombia from a women’s perspective.
July 18, 2007
For immediate release
Colombian Women to Visit Congress
to Speak on Human Rights, Poverty and Trade
A delegation of seven Colombian women will visit Washington on July 23-27 to meet with members of Congress and discuss human rights, poverty and the impact of the pending trade agreement in Colombia from a women’s perspective.
All grassroots leaders of Colombian civil society, this extraordinary delegation includes a member of Congress, María Isabel Urrutia, as well as trade unionists, lawyers, indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders, and women representing communities displaced by the civil conflict.
The delegation will present up-to-date perspectives on violence and threats against trade unionists, the growing numbers of internally displaced people, and continuing abuses of human rights. They will also present their point of view on how Colombia’s rural poverty will likely be worsened by the trade agreement with the United States now before Congress.
The members of the delegation are:
María Isabel Urrutia, member of the lower house of the Colombian Congress, leader of the Afro-Colombian community, and gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in weight-lifting.
Beatríz Fuentes, president of the flower-cutters union Sintrasplendor at the company Splendor, which is owned by the U.S. corporation Dole and exports cut flowers.
Martha Díaz, president of the civil servants’ union in Santander state, who has received numerous threats.
Emerenciana Chicunque, leader of the Katmenza indigenous community in Putumayo, southern Colombia, an area of recent attacks by paramilitary squads on indigenous and other people.
Pilar Rueda Jiménez, anthropologist and professor at La Salle University, Bogotá and leader of the alliance “Make Trade Fair”, a coalition of more than 30 unions and human rights and development groups across Colombia promoting the rights of women workers.
Maura Nasly Mosquera Mosquera, lawyer and assistant to the National Conference of Afro-Colombian Organizations.
Alba Lucia Giraldo, head of household and leader of the grassroots group Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the American Friends Service Committee, and one of the millions of Colombians forcibly displaced from their homes due to threats from paramilitary groups.
Scheduled public events:
Monday, July 23
12:30-2:00 p.m.
“Human Rights in Colombia: Women’s Voices Standing Up for Women’s Rights”
Briefing with congressional staff and the public, sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez.
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Room 2200
For more information on this event, please click here .
Press availability will follow the briefing, until 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 24
12:00-1:30 p.m.
“The Cost of Trade & War: A discussion on gender, race and daily realities in Colombia”
A brown-bag discussion, sponsored by the National Organization for Women and other groups.
FCNL Conference Room, 245 Second Street NE, Washington, DC
For more information on this event, please click here.
Press availability will follow the discussion, until 2:30 p.m.
Simultaneous translation will be provided at all events.
The visit is sponsored by the Washington Office on Latin America, Oxfam America, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Alliance for Responsible Trade.
Press Availability: July 23-27, times flexible.
Contact:
Vicki Gass, WOLA, (202) 797 2171, ext. 212
Stephanie Burgos, Oxfam, (202) 496 1088
Roger Atwood, WOLA, (202) 797 2171, ext. 211