Grassroots organizers, religious groups, and independent activists have the power to raise awareness on a massive scale.
The CON LÍDERES HAY PAZ campaign has consulted with social leaders in Colombia to identify what the international community can do to support their courageous work.
Join their fight by learning about their work, communicating their needs to policymakers, and raising their voices.
5 MINUTES ACTIONS
Join the story by signing up to the email list.
Share the link to the campaign with five people you know.
15 MINUTES
Read the in-depth analysis of what the Colombian government must do to protect social leaders.
30 MINUTES
Contact your policymakers and ask them to support social leaders in Colombia. 2 HOURS
Listen to the podcast series REBUILDING PEACE. BONUS
Create an action group that organizes around supporting the work of social leaders in Colombia
Leyner’s Story: Listen to Leyner’s episode and learn more about his story.
Follow Leyner on Twitter
Verdad Pacífico: Truth Commission for the Pacific Region of Colombia
Comisión de la Verdad: Colombia’s Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition
Danelly’s Story: Listen to Danelly’s episode and learn more about her story.
Follow Danelly on Twitter
#SOSBuenaventura: Follow this hashtag for updates on the latest actions to protect peace in Buenaventura.
More Ports, Less Community: Danelly’s research into the impact of development projects in Buenaventura. (Spanish)
Erlendy’s Story: Listen to Erlendy’s episode and learn more about her story.
Follow Erlendy on Twitter
AFRODES Cali: AFRODES Cali is an organization that defends and supports the displaced Afro-Colombians in vulnerable neighborhoods like Llano Verde.
AFRODES Colombia: National organization in Colombia that advocates for the human rights of Afro-Colombians.
Darío’s Story: Listen to Darío’s episode and learn more about his story.
Follow Darío on Twitter
ONIC Colombia: Follow the National Indigenous Organization in Colombia for actions supporting the rights of Indigenous peoples in Colombia.
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Support the role of Indigenous voices globally.
In April 2021, the campaign ran a Week of Action campaign, where we encouraged grassroots activists, academics, civil society organization, press, and policymakers alike to support the work of social leaders. Consider running your own week of action based on the following activities, and follow the campaign for more opportunities to engage.
The Problem: Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in Colombia are disproportionately neglected and vulnerable to violence due to the lack of implementation of the 2016 peace accords.
The Demand: The Colombian government must commit to its promises to peace and uphold key aspects of the Peace Accord that were meant to protect historically marginalized communities.
Daily Actions:
The Problem: In 2020, there were more than 60 massacres across Colombia. Paramilitary and illegal armed groups often target social leaders who are working to build peace, and attackers are rarely brought to justice.
The Demand: The Colombian government must use the provisions of the peace accords meant to help dismantle illegal armed groups and investigate not only those who carry out the attacks against social leaders, but those who give the order as well.
Daily Actions:
The Problem:
Social leaders in Colombia have been targeted and demonized for promoting peace and advocating on behalf of their communities.
The Demand:
It’s time for the Colombian and policymakers worldwide to honor and recognize the crucial role social leaders play in protecting peace, a role that the Colombian government is also responsible for and has repeatedly neglected.
Sample Tweets:
The U.S. supported the signing of the 2016 Peace Accords. But with over 500 social leaders killed since 2016, more must be done to protect peace in #Colombia. #ConLíderesHayPaz #WeekOfAction Share on X Colombia’s fragile hold on peace is slipping. Social leaders are fighting for both their lives and their communities. We need to change the story. #ConLíderesHayPaz #WeekOfAction Share on X
The Problem: The Colombian government has repeatedly ignored Indigenous social leaders’ calls for land rights and environmental justice.
The Demand: The Colombia government must uphold key provisions of the rural reform chapter of the 2016 Peace Accords, including prior consultation and land funds that support Indigenous communities disproportionately impacted by both climate change and the decades-long conflict.
Daily Actions:
The Problem: Colombia’s fragile hold on peace is slipping. With little official support, social leaders are fighting for both their lives and their communities, and trying to heal the wounds of the past while restoring hope for the future.
The Demand: The Colombian government and international policymakers must commit to changing the story. By implementing provisions in the 2016 Peace Accords and supporting the work of current and emerging social leaders, peace is possible in Colombia
Daily Actions:
