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info@colombiasinminas.org

Carrera 10 No. 24-76 Of. 806

Bogotá DC, 11001 Colombia

Tel. (+57 1) 283-0108

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REINTEGRATION TO SOCIETY

My name is Carlos Arturo Bravo Gómez. I from the district of Colón-Génova in Colombia’s southern

Nariño Department, and I am a survivor of an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) accident. My accident

happened in 2002, when I was 14 years old. After the accident I went through a really hard time; I had

to stop studying and working on the land… I felt as if life had shut all its doors in my face. I underwent

over 30 surgeries, and was separated from my family to come to Bogotá DC and follow a rehabilitation

treatment programme… things were truly difficult. However, thanks to the Colombian Campaign to Ban

Landmines (Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas-CCCM) and Moviment Per La Pau, everything has

changed.

Today, I am part of the CCCM staff in Bogotá DC. I take care of the coffee service, mail and overall

help. I am attending Junior High in Colegio Distrital Panamericano, in Bogotá. I want to finish school

and then I would like to study to be a Physician or an Attorney.

I feel happy that there is hope at the end of

the tunnel!

In this photo: Carlos Arturo Bravo (21)

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REGIONAL FORUM, 2009

In this photo: Jairo Bedoya Villa (27)

One of my principal tasks in recent months was organizing 6 regional consultation forums. They took

place in different Colombian geographical departments: Antioquia, Bolívar, Cauca, Florencia, Meta and

Norte de Santander between the 2nd and 18th of September 2009.

The aim of the forums was to examine the application of the commitments made by the state at the

Nairobi Conference in 2004 and NGOs, survivors, communities affected by mines, victim associations

and the community in general participated in the discussions. Five ‘pillars’ of analysis were established:

Victim Assistance, Mine Risk Education, Humanitarian Demining, Advocacy and Destruction of

Stockpiling, from which some significant conclusions were drawn. The Fundación Mi Sangre and the

departmental coordinators that the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCCM) employs in 22 of

Colombia’s departments supported me in publicity and organisation. The regional forums were the

result of a collective effort by a group of 14 organisations to present the outcomes as a nation at the

Second Revision Conference of the Ottawa Treaty, that will take place in Cartagena between the 30th

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November and the 4th December 2009. The responsibility for the forums lay with CCCM and the

Fundación Mi Sangre.

The group has been named GTO 14 – Ottawa Work Group 14. The organisations are: CCCM, Centro

Integral de Rehabilitación de Colombia (CIREC), Fundación REI, Fundación Mi Sangre, Handicap

International, United for Colombia, Cruz Roja Colombiana, Mercy Corps, Moviment Per la Pau,

Asamblea Permanente por la Paz (APSCP), Pastoral Social, Fundación Restrepo Barco, the British

Council and Corporación Retorno y Vida.

FIRST STEPS TOWARDS THE EXTENSION OF THE

YOUTH NETWORK PROJECT (YNP) IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF CALDAS

On August 4th 2009 the Youth Network Project was presented to the youth leaders in the districts of

Samaná, Pensilvania, Manzanares and Chichiná. This was the first scheme the Youth Network had run

in the two districts east of Caldas (Samaná and Pensilvania), the region where most accidents and

incidents have taken place since 2002. The district of Manzanares, which is the most affected area, has

the highest number of victims in its Department, compared to other regions in the country. The district

of Chinchiná which is close to the capital, Manizales, appears to provide a safe connection to the south

of the Department of Caldas.

This first meeting set the scene for the participants to exchange experiences and real life stories related

to the landmine issue and facilitated a dialog on the importance of youth participation in national

mobilization and awareness. The Youth Network Project is satisfied with the meeting’s outcome. This

first meeting, with many more to come, allowed young people to get to know the real issues and design

initiatives to collaborate with the cause and be part of the advocacy process.

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In this photo: Children admiring designs made by the YNP

THE YOUTH NETWORK PROJECT (YNP) PARTICIPATION

IN THE ENVIRONMENT WEEK EVENT

On June 10th 2009 The Youth Network Project was invited by the Botanic Garden of the Universidad de

Caldas, to participate in the Environment & Youth Event which took place on June 8th in the university.

The YNP presented its work plan and its background, and made a public invitation to the community to

join in with future activities.

María Clemencia Vallejo, Andrés Barreto and Andrés Yepes were in charge of presentation and

coordination of the YNP work.

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In this photo: participants

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, BOGOTÁ DC

This young woman is part of the

Administrative Team at CCCM which is

a crucial component to our daily

operations.

In this photo: Yesenia Gómez (27) (Accountant)

Even though I’ve always worked in the

city, during my career as a

ChartereAccountant, participating in

the activities undertaken by the

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Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas has given me an awareness of the landmine issue faced in our

country. My work here has connected me with the problems caused by landmines and UXO, and I

believe in light of the fact that ours is not an isolated problem, regardless of our profession, we can

each do our little bit to bring about change”

Yesenia Gómez (27), Colombia

YOUTH STAFF, BOGOTÁ DC

HEAD OFFICE

In this photo: From left to right: Jairo Bedoya (Project Officer “Regional Forums”), Laura Parker (Intern), Eunice Pena

(Project Officer “Youth Program in Colombia”), Florian Gonus (Jr. Project Officer “ICBL”), Sebastian Gonzalez (Assistant

of Communications Department), Laura Creese (Intern), Angela Sanabria (Coordinator of Communications Department),

Claire Read (Intern), Carlos Bravo (General Services) and María Ines Urrego (Coordinator of Cundinamarca Department)

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“Working in Communications for the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines has been one of the best experiences of my life, giving me the opportunity to get to know my country better, and to understand one of its biggest problems - antipersonnel mines. The campaign has also allowed me to meet many landmine survivors, which has enriched both my personal and professional life. Additionally, I have

been able to work with other people and organisations who work in anti-mine action, from whom I learn every day and together we try, each day, to make small steps towards a Colombia without landmines”

Jairo Bedoya (27), Colombia

“I’m spending a year abroad as part of a languages degree volunteering for the Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas. Helping out with translations in the run up to the Cartagena Summit has given me a valuable insight into the one of Colombia's lesser known tragedies, a slow and drawn out struggle on both a personal and national level, and one that is often eclipsed by more sensational headlines in the international media. The material I've come across has shown that the issues faced are as daunting and complex as the solutions are

inspirational, both in Colombia and in other countries affected by landmines.

At the summit I also hope to get involved with an integration sports day of scuba diving with landmine victims, just one example of the many innovative and worthwhile initiatives that I hope will help those affected by

landmines to continue to lead fulfilled lives, as well as enabling others to alter our own perceptions, revealing the ability behind a disability”

Laura Parker (21), United Kingdom

“I started to work in the CCCM as a Volunteer, after a couple of months I felt incredible involved in the cause by undertaking interesting assignments that I just wanted to be a 100% part of this amazing work by giving

more of my time and dedication. The CCCM gave me the great opportunity to help such a young staff here in Bogotá DC, that works everyday with a genuine enthusiasm which makes it easier to understand that we, the

youths, are the hope of this Country and I am sure we can achieve excellent things for a Colombia Mine-Free!”

Eunice Pena (27), Venezuela

“I’ve been working with the ICBL (International Campaign to Ban Landmines) in Geneva for about 6 months before I left for Colombia to work with the CCCM (Campaña Colombiana contra Minas) in Bogotá. The Road to Cartagena started for me at the beginning of this year with the ICBL in Geneva, where I helped the ICBL Team gather information about the States Parties and State Not Party to the Mine Ban Treaty, organized and attended Bilateral and International meetings in Geneva. Following the work of the ICBL Campaigners around the world; learning more about Victim Assistance, Human Rights, Advocacy and the fight for a World free of Landmines and Clusters Munitions; and helping the ICBL Specialists in their daily work, led me to leave Geneva in order to embark upon a new experience in Colombia with the CCCM. Landmines in Colombia are

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unfortunately everywhere, and are the cause of a lot of pain and accidents in almost all of the country’s departments.

This is why the work of the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines is crucial. The network of NGOs here is really important to achieve the different goals established to rid Colombia of landmines. I have witnessed this with the GTO14 Forums across Colombia. I feel closer to the reality of the landmine problem here, because I feel genuinely involved in the following topics: I’m particularly glad to help the CCCM team on the path to the

Cartagena Summit, and to work for a mine free world, starting here in Colombia”

Florian Gonus (28), Switzerland

“All my life I had heard people in the media talking about mines, but it was only when I went to university that I realized how deep the problem was and how wide-reaching the consequences are for people who have had an landmine accident. I also realised that sometimes a lack of solidarity is worse than the accident itself, and that is why I joined the Colombian Campaign. We work hard hoping that one day our work is not going to be needed

any more, but until that time comes, we will stand up for the victims”

Sebastián González (24), Colombia

“Despite being far from my home in England, I can safely say the two months I’ve spent working with the campaign here in Colombia so far will not be forgotten in a hurry. Getting to know the complex situation in this

beautiful country has only furthered my admiration for the team from the campaign working both here in Bogota and in affected areas in a number of departments. Despite the campaign team being spread out all over

the country, you can be sure that they are all working in their many roles with the same dedication and enthusiasm to help, support, and educate those civilians affected by landmines in Colombia”

Laura Creese (21), United Kingdom

“In a country like Colombia where armed groups continue to fight on a daily basis to win a struggle that has nothing to do with the civilian population, the consequences continue to be disastrous. It is for this reason that I stride in my professional life to work and contribute my knowledge to fight for a Colombia without Mines. In

my experience of working for CCCM for nearly two years, it has become clear to me that despite the International Community, Civil Society and even the State becoming more aware of the humanitarian threat

that the presence of antipersonnel mines in Colombia has caused, we must commit to creating a united workforce to overcome this ongoing problem.

Within CCCM, I am responsible for letting people from the 22 departments in which CCCM is active know how to create the tools and strategies for improving communication channels and how to utilize the relevant

information for the benefit of the victims. This has been the most rewarding part of my experience with the Campaign”

Angela Sanabria (25), Colombia

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“Living and working in Bogotá is an experience in itself, but to be involved with an organisation like the campaign is something else. In a country with so many complications, so many deep-seated and long term

troubles, it is great to be working with a team so motivated for change. In all departments of the country where the campaign is present there are representatives determined to increase awareness and to help those affected

by the indiscriminate power of landmines.

Working with the campaign has been an eye-opening experience for me as I have been exposed to the real effects of an ongoing guerrilla war, to the phenomenal number of steps that are necessary to bring about

change and increase awareness and to a country with outstanding natural beauty and the warmest of peoples”

Claire Read (21), United Kingdom

“I am a linguist by profession, and I started voluntary work with the CCCM in 2007, assisting landmine victims. I am now part of the official Campaign team, and I firmly believe that the most important work that all Campaigns to Ban Landmines should engage in is petitioning the State to grant victims their full rights. During my time at the Campaign I have also learnt that mine and UXO victims must uphold their rights and be aware of the possibilities available to them, and that our role is to facilitate the means by which they can fully exercise

these rights, not only as landmine victims, but as productive individuals in their communities”

María Inés Urrego (30), Colombia

MINE RISK EDUCATION BY THE

SCOUTS FROM CAUCA

With the aim of strengthening all the Scout groups from the Cauca department, and developing skills in the

prevention of accidents with antipersonnel mines, abandoned UXO and booby traps, a group of rovers1, aged 18

to 21, belonging to scout groups numbers 5, 6 and 8 from the city of Popayán, are currently carrying out the

project “Mine Risk Education in the Cauca Scouts’ Region,” with the technical and financial support of the

Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas and UNICEF. This initiative, which began in February 2009, has now

completed its first phase, in which a core group of 10 rovers were trained as Mine Risk Educators, receiving

training directly from the Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas. The second phase of the project is currently

underway, with training already completed by 15 Scout group leaders from Popayán.

1 Rovers: young people between 18 and 21 years old who are completing the last educational requirement of the Scout movement.

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In November the accident prevention message will be taught to 50 Scout leaders in the framework of a camp

called “Towards the protection of ourselves and our environment.” Thanks to UNICEF support, each youth

educator, leader group and Scout group in Popayán will have the teaching materials and tools they need to carry

out accident prevention and awareness work with each target age group. The project is considering a third phase

for the first quarter of next year, in which each Scout group in Popayán would adopt a rural community from

our municipality, and spread the mine accident prevention message there using both the Scout Method2 and the

specific UNICEF teaching plan on dealing with the topic of accident prevention.

In this photo: Scout leaders in a training session, run by the Rover Jafed Rengifo, in Popayán

The project was awarded first place in a competition against other service and social protection initiatives

presented by more than 100 young Scouts nationwide, in the National Scouts Forum which took place in June

this year in Bogotá. Thanks to this acknowledgment, the Colombian Scouts Association have invited the leaders

of the project to present the results and conclusions of the first and second phases at “Jamboree Colombia

2010,” an event which will take place in January 2010, in which 5000 Scouts from all over the country will be

brought together in a camp in the municipality of Virginia-Risaralda.

2 Scout Method: System of progressive independent learning, created by the founder of the Scout movement, based on the interaction of its components – voluntary commitment to a promise and a rule, learning through experience, life in the outdoors, work in small and uncontrived groups, and the stimulating but not interfering presence of an adult.

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Daniel Camayo, top left, the Cauca representative

at the National Scouts Forum, along with Rovers

from other departments.

This initiative seeks not only to help

reduce the risk posed by landmines to the civil population, to which the Scouts belong (and given the nature of

our outdoors activities, we too are affected by this risk), but also to define a teaching strategy based on the

Scout Method and the directives drawn up by UNICEF and the Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas that will be

applicable to children and young people from all over Colombia, so as to provide one more way in which to

tackle the topic of accident prevention, this being one of the fundamental human rights, of which we are all in

full possession.

‘ROAD TO CARTAGENA’ WORKSHOP

YOUTH, LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION PROGRAM (YLEAP) COLOMBIA

BOGOTÁ, OCTOBER 29TH 2009

Mines Action Canada (MAC) is working to help alleviate a serious problem that has been spiraling out of

control in the past few years: the landmine issue. MAC has selected four Colombian youth delegates to go to

the Second Revision Conference in Cartagena.. Juan Pablo, Daniel, David and Manuela will each give a

presentation on a different mine related topic at the Conference, namely: victim assistance, mine risk education,

humanitarian demining and advocacy.

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On October 29th we, CCCM, held our very first meeting, with the aim of preparing participants for the

conference that will take place in Cartagena from November 30th to December 4th. The youth delegates

travelled to Bogotá from as far away as Manizales, Medellin and the Cauca, to undergo an intensive training

workshop for what awaits them in Cartagena.

What they are hoping to do is make others aware of the landmine problem in Colombia, and it is thus very

important that they are well versed in all aspects of CCCM´s work, and are able to discuss in depth all issues

related to the landmine situation. Therefore, the participation of CCCM staff was crucial, helping explain and

reinforce knowledge in all fields in which CCCM is involved. Carlos Arturo Bravo, a landmine victim working

for CCCM in Bogotá told the delegates the story of his accident and rehabilitation, offering them a closer

insight into the typical obstacles and pitfalls that befall many landmine victims, enabling them to really

contextualise the topics of their presentations. Although most of the delegates have worked with mine victims

before, this testimony was dealt with in an educational fashion, and we discussed aspects of Carlos Arturo´s

story in relation to the topics to be dealt with in the presentations.

In this photo: Carlos Arturo Bravo, María Inés

Urrego and Manuela Florez

The CCCM communications team took part, giving the delegates a presentation on the relevance of the Second

Revision Conference, what we hope to acheive there, and what role they play in the greater scheme of landmine

advocacy

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In this photo: María Inés Urrego, Ángela Sanabria

and Jairo Bedoya

The Campaign Director, Alvaro Jimenez also made a contribution to the day’s activities, providing not only an

overview of the work we are doing here, but also an impulse to further motivate the youth delegates and

encouragement to concert their efforts in the run up to the conference.

In this photo: Álvaro Jiménez Millán

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As one participant, Isabella Vargas, who volunteered for the Campaign last year, explains her take on the

matters at hand, in light of the workshop: “It is not about making people think, ‘Oh, Colombia has a lot of

problems,’ rather, what these four young people are really trying to do is find real solutions and solve this issue

that affects not only our country, but also many other countries around the world.

In this photo: Manuela Flórez, Isabella Vargas,

Laura Parker and David Vallejo

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“Landmines are designed to kill and maim whoever comes into contact with them. Yet their effects are not

limited to mutilating their victims. Losing a leg or an arm is not the sole problem a victim must contend with,

rather the plethora of additional consequences, such as psychological trauma and subsequent employment

difficulties. There are also immediate difficulties incurred at the scene of the accident, namely transporting the

victim to a hospital. Landmines are left in places that charitable organisations such as the Colombian Red Cross

can’t access. A further issue to contend with is the unfair stigmatization of survivors: in Colombia, it is often

presumed that landmine accidents befall those involved in Non-State Actors activities.

“Finally there is the matter of the ‘erradicadores,’ a delicate subject relating to the mine accidents incurred by

those employed to clear illegal crop plantations. These are just some of the topics that were discussed during the

meeting, and which will be brought up at the conference. The general consensus of our discussion was that mine

victims in Colombia do not currently receive the aid to which they are entitled – as well as landmine victims,

they are also victims of the internal political situation of the country.”

During the meeting we did some trial runs of the presentations, in order to improve the participants’ self-

confidence, and so they would feel more at ease presenting in front of an audience. Laura Parker, an English

intern at the Campaign helped facilitate the discussions in English, and ran a brief language feedback class so

participants could hone their skills. We worked on the presentations in English, and plan to keep on practicing

so as to cement our command of the English language in a formal, diplomatic environment.

In this photo: Manuela Flórez, David

Vallejo, Eunice Pena and Laura

Parker

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In this photo: Daniel Camayo, Juan Pablo Escobar,

Eunice Pena and David Vallejo

Other CCCM staff that helped facilitate the day’s

activities were Maria Ines, a specialist in the field

of victim assistance, who proposed some

challenging and difficult topics for the delegates

to cover in their presentations, resulting in a lively and informative discussion of many previously overlooked

issues.

In this photo: Laura Parker

Eunice Pena, the Youth Campaign

Coordinator also helped facilitate

activities, and helped the delegates structure their presentations in a cohesive manner, so that they will

complement each other at the conference, and form a convincing whole, really strengthening the presence of the

delegates as a unified team.

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In this photo: Eunice Pena, Carlos

Arturo Bravo, María Inés Urrego,

Manuela Flórez, David Vallejo, Juan

Pablo Escobar and Daniel Camayo

In conclusion, the meeting washighly successful as we achieved our goals of trialing the presentations,

practicing English, really getting to grips with all issues relating to the topics and editing the design of the

presentations. This was the first step taken on the path to Cartagena by a group of young Colombians who care

deeply about the situation in their country, a group of boys and girls who are ready to give their all to be part of

the solution to the landmine problem here in Colombia and all around the world.