You are cordially invited to join the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the George Washington University’s Latin America & Hemispheric Studies Program to a conference with leading Colombian analysts and experts on the peace process and the future of post-accord Colombia
Panel 1
9:15AM-11:00AM
Coca: What to do about it?
Bo Mathiasen,
Representative in Colombia,
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Juan Carlos Garzón Vergara,
Associate Researcher, Ideas for Peace Foundation
Pedro Arenas,
Coordinator, Observatory of Illicit Crops and Cultivators (OCDI)
11:00AM-11:15AM
Break
Panel 2
11:15AM-1:00PM
Reintegrating Ex-Combatants into Civilian Life
Ariel Ávila,*
Deputy Director, Peace and Reconciliation Foundation (via Skype)
Maria Eugenia Mosquera,*
Representative, Communities Building Peace in the Territories (CONPAZ) (via Skype)
Mariano Aguirre,
Senior Peacebuilding Advisor, Office of United Nations Resident
and Humanitarian Coordinator in Colombia
Victoria Sandino,*
Representative, Alternative Common Revolutionary Force (FARC) (via Skype)
1:00PM-2:00PM
Lunch
Speaker: Jared Kotler,
Team leader for Colombia, United Nations Department of Political Affairs
Panel 3
2:00-3:45
Transitional Justice and Victims
Juan Méndez,
Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence, American University Washington College of Law
Member of Colombian Selection Committee for Judges of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace
Carolina Villadiego,
Director of Judicial System Research, DeJusticia
Ariel Palacios,
Representing the Afro-Colombian Peace Council (CONPA),
Ethnic Commission for Peace and Defense of Territorial Rights,
Coordinator of political and legislative advocacy, National Conference of Afro-Colombian Organizations (CNOA)
9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday, October 16, 2017
The George Washington University
City View Room
1957 E Street NW, 7th Floor
Nearly a year ago, Colombia’s government and the FARC guerrilla group signed a historic peace accord ending 52 years of fighting. The FARC has since disarmed, a ceasefire has largely held, and talks have begun with the smaller ELN guerrillas.
Implementing the November 2016 accord, though, may be harder than negotiating it was. Progress on many fronts has been halting and frustrating. Three panels on October 16 will discuss aspects of Colombia’s post-accord reality, determining what is running well, what needs to be “hacked,” and what may need a total reboot.
Each panel will last one hour and forty-five minutes. There will be a 45-minute lunch address. A simple lunch will be provided. Simultaneous translation will be available.
*U.S. visa processing complications will prevent three panelists from presenting in person.
