IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 822 

Promoting local peace building efforts in Colombia and recognizing the courageous efforts of Colombian civil society and churches to establish peace 

communities, advance non-violent conflict resolution, and advocate for 

human dignity. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 18, 2006 

Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota (for herself, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. SABO, Mr. 

MCGOVERN, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. LEE, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. MCKINNEY, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Promoting local peace building efforts in Colombia and recognizing the courageous efforts of Colombian civil society 

and churches to establish peace communities, advance 

non-violent conflict resolution, and advocate for human 

dignity. 

Whereas the people of Colombia continue to suffer after more 

than forty years of uninterrupted armed conflict involving 

government forces, guerilla groups, and paramilitaries 

rooted in social, economic, and political exclusion and inequalities, and financed by drug trafficking and other 

criminal activities; 


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•HRES 822 IH

Whereas according to the Colombian Consultancy for Human 

Rights and Displacement (CODHES), since 1985, more 

than 3,000,000 Colombians have been forcibly displaced 

from their homes and land due to armed conflict, resulting in the most serious humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere; 

Whereas although Colombia has decreased its homicide rate, 

violence continues to be the leading cause of death; 

Whereas violence is the second leading cause of death for Colombian children ages 5 to 14 years; 

Whereas violence is the leading cause of death for Colombian 

women between the ages of 15 and 39 years old—17 per 

100,000—killing twice as many women as the second 

leading cause of death, complications from pregnancy and 

childbirth; 

Whereas the homicide rate for Colombian males between the 

ages of 15 and 44 stands at a startling 221 per 100,000, 

according to the Colombian Ministry of Health and the 

Pan American Health Organization; 

Whereas Colombian civil society, including women’s groups, 

churches and communities of campesinos, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous people, are making courageous efforts to promote peace, conflict resolution, and democracy 

in the face of armed conflict and extreme violence that 

includes massacres, killings, forced disappearances, 

kidnappings, torture, and extortion; 

Whereas local peace-building efforts are essential for self-protection, for the prevention of violent displacement, for 

reconciliation, and for advancing human rights; 

Whereas the Peace Sanctuary Church (Iglesias Santuarios de 

Paz) Movement in Montes de Maria region, and other 


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parts of Colombia, is making a vital contribution to local 

and regional peace-building efforts; 

Whereas Afro-Colombian communities in the Pacific coastal 

region are active in the peace-building movement, including the Peace Community of San Jose ́ de Apartado ́, San 

Francisco de Ası ́s, Jiguamiando, Curvarado, CAVIDA, 

and the Main Black Community Councils of Middle 

Atrato, Naya, Yurumangui, Cajambre, Mayorquino, and 

Raposo; 

Whereas indigenous communities are advancing conflict resolution and peaceful solutions in the province of Cauca, including the Nasa Project in Toribio, San Francisco, and 

Tacueyo, and the Global Project in Jambalo and 

Piendamo; 

Whereas civil society groups are courageously promoting 

peace, including the Medellin Youth Network, the Middle 

Magdalena Peace and Development Program, and the 

Municipal Constituency Assemblies of Tarso, Mogotes, 

Riachuelo and Micoahumado; 

Whereas women and women’s groups, such as the Women’s 

Route (Ruta Pacifica de Mujeres), a network of more 

than 300 women’s organizations, the Popular Female Organization (Organizacion Feminina Popular), and the 

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, 

have been critical to local peace-building in Colombia; 

Whereas leaders and members of local peace-building initiatives throughout Colombia have been victims of or live 

with the threat of extrajudicial executions, violence, and 

kidnapping by left-wing guerillas and right-wing 

paramilitaries; 


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Whereas churches and faith communities in the United 

States and Colombia, as well as non-governmental organizations working for peace, democracy and human rights 

in Colombia, provide on-going support, advocacy, and a 

voice for the millions of Colombians struggling to survive 

in the face of poverty, displacement, and violence; 

Whereas many members of the religious communities across 

the United States are working in solidarity with Peace 

Communities, Peace Sanctuary Churches, and other local 

peace-building initiatives in Colombia; 

Whereas Colombia’s government is a major beneficiary of 

United States foreign assistance, and has received close 

to $5,000,000,000 in military, counter-narcotics, and 

other aid since 2000; and 

Whereas the United States has a significant strategic interest 

in assisting Colombia and its people to end armed conflict 

and drug trafficking, promote human rights, allow displaced families to return to their traditional land and 

communities under appropriate human security conditions, and establish a process for peaceful reconciliation, 

justice, and restoring the rule of law: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the courage and supports the de3 termination of leaders and members of civil society 

4 and faith communities who are risking their lives 

5 every day to advance local peace-building efforts, 

6 end violence and promote peace, human rights, and 

7 human dignity in Colombia; 


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1 (2) recognizes the service and commitment of 

2 churches, faith-based organizations, and non-govern3 mental organizations in the United States and Co4 lombia for their advocacy and humanitarian assist5 ance to promote peace, defend human rights, and 

6 improve the lives of the people of Colombia who have 

7 been displaced and marginalized; 

8 (3) urges the Secretary of State to recognize, 

9 promote, and provide support for faith-based organi10 zations and non-governmental organizations in Co11 lombia, and their partners in the United States, for 

12 efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, promote 

13 peace and conflict resolution, advance human rights, 

14 and end the armed conflict in Colombia; and 

15 (4) calls upon the Secretary of State to monitor 

16 any acts of violence or human rights abuses com17 mitted against leaders or members of local peace18 building efforts in Colombia by government forces, 

19 guerilla groups, or paramilitaries. 

Æ 


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