What exactly is Colombia’s Total Peace Effort and How It Is Advancing?
On August 7, 2022 newly inaugurated President Gustavo Petro announced that he would be implementing a total peace effort to end violence in Colombia. The Total Peace policy is a multifaceted effort that seeks to minimize violence, protect civilians and dismantle the many armed groups operating in Colombia. It considers the lessons learned from the country’s peace and “submission processes”.
This ambitious plan seeks to dismantle multiple illegal armed groups at the same time rather than the past approach of individual processes. It consists of implementing the commitments made in the 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), dialoguing with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and addressing other illegal armed groups through a submission process. At the same time, the Petro administration is aligning the national budget and integrating regional and local government into the peace process. Total peace is based on the concept that human security comes about by guaranteeing the right to life, Colombians’ socio-economic well-being and protecting the natural environment.
Since the total peace effort started, it has raised many questions in the United States. This webinar will seek to answer questions a U.S. audience may have about this ambitious peace process. It will also look at the present configuration of armed groups in Colombia and their links to grave human rights abuses, killings of social leaders, internal displacement and humanitarian confinements.
With:
Ivan Cepeda Castro, Senator of Colombia
Alirio Uribe, Congressional Representative, Co-President of the Peace Commission
Camilo González Posso, President of the Institute for the Study of Development and Peace (INDEPAZ)
Commentary by Lisa Haugaard, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group
Raudemar Ofunshi, Shaman, Human Rights Defender, Host, Colombia Acuerdo de Paz
and
Moderated by Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes, WOLA
Wednesday, March 15th, 12:30 pm -1:30 pm EDT
Virtual
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
Please RSVP for the webinar here.