Colombian Human Rights Defenders Navigate Post-Accord Challenges (English)
Channel: United States Institute of Peace
Date: 2018-02-16

Watch this discussion in Spanish: https://youtu.be/5BrRmafpkvA 

The government’s peace accord with the former FARC rebels presents a historic opportunity to work towards the construction of a democratic Colombia that addresses the wrongs of the past and charts a new course toward equality, justice, and prosperity. At the heart of this process are human rights defenders and civil society organizations, who play a vital role in addressing the underlying economic and social root causes of violence and holding stakeholders accountable to the commitments of the accords.

For more information, visit: https://www.usip.org/events/colombia-peace-forum-colombian-human-rights-defenders-navigate-post-accord-challenges

Speakers:

Carla Koppell
Vice President, Center for Applied Conflict Transformation, U.S. Institute of Peace

Steve Hege, Moderator
Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights

Enrique Chimonja
Winner, Defender of the Year, Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz

Angélica Ortiz
Winner, Social Collective Process of the Year, Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuú

Iván Madero Vergel
Winner, Collective Process of the Year, NGO Level, Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (CREDHOS)

Socorro Acero Bautista 
Winner, Recognition of “Lifetime” Defender
Comité Permanente por la defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Colombia (CPDH)

Gimena Sánchez, Commentator
Director for the Andes, Washington Office on Latin America
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights

Lisa Haugaard, Commentator
Executive Director, Latin American Working Group
Juror, National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights