Peace Brigades International

PBI Colombia

Making space for peace in Colombia

The presence of observers and accompaniment

on the ground

Advocacy at the regional,

national, and international

levels

Self-protection and security

measures and support for

reconstruction of the social fabric

Information and

consciousness-raising through

periodic publications

Peace Brigades International (PBI) is an international NGO that accompanies human rights defenders and rural communities in Colombia. PBI has carried out observation and international accompaniment work in Colombia since 1994.

We work solely at the request of local organizations,utilizing:

Persons accomPanied by Pbi share a commitment to human rights, to the fight against imPunity, and to the dream of a colombia with social justice.

“on average, every five days a defender was killed and every 20 hours one was assaulted in 2012.” we are defenders Program

why does the risk to human rights defenders decrease with our

accompaniment?

International presence has played a key role in the work of human rights organizations in areas of armed conflict, reducing their risk. Permanent international accompaniment seeks to deter armed attacks and threats against civilians, and allows for independent observation and the production offirst-hand information for the international community. On-going advocacy in Colombia, Europe and North America supports human rights protection work.

we accompany

• Human rights organizations working with indigenous, small-scale farming, and Afro-descendent communities, all victims of internal armed conflict;

• Associations of small-scale farmers and grassroots organizations fighting for land rights, land redistribution, and the dignity of rural life;

• Communities that have survived, and continue to resist, forced displacement in the midst of armed conflict;

• Lawyers advising and representing victims of human rights violations;

• Journalists who investigate and report on the human rights situation in Colombia.

why is it important to provide protection?

In Colombia, human rights defenders are often threatened, killed, disappeared, displaced or forced into exile. Just in 2012, a total of 357 defenders were targeted in Colombia, a figure that represents an increase of 49% over the previous year, according to a report from the We are Defenders Program, a research organization formed by local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Threats have become one of the common ways to generate fear. In 2012, there were 202 direct threats to defenders or their families through phone calls, emails and pamphlets. The We are Defenders warns that there is a “growing trend of murders of human rights defenders in Colombia since 2011.” In 2011, the NGO recorded 49 killings of activists, in 2012 the figure rose to 69, and from January to March 2013, there were 15 violent deaths.

Women defenders continue to be one of the sectors most affected by the attacks. Recorded assaults against them increased from 54 in 2011 to 92 in 2012.

Our thematic focuses

The fight against

impunity

and the search for

truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-repetition

ReMeMbeRingThe National Registry of Missing Persons reports 50,891 people with unknown whereabouts in Colombia, of which 18,000 are presumed to be victims of forced disappearance. Over 98% of cases remain in impunity or in the preliminary investigation stage.

For example, in La Escombrera in Medellin, organizations claim that hundreds of people are buried. Victims say that paramilitary groups, operating in the Comuna 13 shanty town, disposed of corpses like trash. The victims allege that this is what happened after Operation Orion, a military intervention designed to regain state control in the Comuna 13.

Human rights violations because of

economic interestsThe promotion of

peace

Mining in COlOMbiaIn order to stimulate the development of this economic sector, the Government has promoted the intensification of mining in Colombia. Between 2001 and 2011, almost 40% of national territory was awarded in concessions or has been requested by mining and petrochemical companies.

According to a report by the Comptroller General of Colombia, there is a relationship between large-scale extractions, displacement and poverty because when large scale mining is carried out in inadequate conditions, it becomes a major cause of forced displacement and undermines rights. In the face of this situation, indigenous communities, Afro-descendants and peasants have decided to organize, resist and fight for their land and their rights.

COlOMbia, the COuntRy with the wORld’s laRgest inteRnally displaCed pOpulatiOnAccording to the Centre for Internal Displacement Monitoring, “the Government and civil society estimate the total of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to be between 4.9 and 5.5 million people” as of 2012, orapproximately 10% of the Colombian population. In 2011 the Colombian government introduced the Victims and Land Restitution Law - a transitional justice policy that provides a framework for land restitution and reparation for victims of the conflict. Land restitution is one of the most important steps towards peace in Colombia.

where we work

We currently accompany human rights organizations and communities in 12 departments.

aCCOMpaniMent in the fieldVolunteers from Europe, North and Latin America walk day after day with the most threatened human rights defenders, in regions where their lives are at risk. We permanently accompany organizations and human rights defenders in their work of protecting, advising and training thousands of people who have been victims of armed conflict in Colombia.

advOCaCyOur advocacy work has played a vital role in highlighting human rights violations in Colombia and the risk that human rights organizations face. From our offices in Washington, Barcelona and Bogotá, we work with allies - embassies, U.N. agencies, human rights NGOs, governmental entities, members of congress and parliamentarians from different countries, and churches - to support the requests of accompanied people and communities, and to generate international pressure in order to achieve full respect for human rights. Likewise, we meet with Colombian military and civilian entities at the national and regional levels to convey our concerns about the situation of all those we accompany.

highlights of pbi Colombia’s work

suppORt fOR the ReCOnstRuCtiOn Of the sOCial fabRiCWe understand protection in an integral way that, in addition to protocols and security measures,involves emotions as a critical part of protection. An important objective is the strengthening of organizational and individual self-protection capabilities.

publiCatiOnsOur presence on the ground allows us to carry out journalistic research, interviews, video production and photography. Through our publications in English and Spanish, we report on the current risks facing people and communities in the midst of the armed conflict.

Returning to the landan experience of

our accompaniment

“the Particularity of the Pitalito return stems from the fact that the conditions that led to their disPlacement have not been overcome. the PerPetrators have not been Prosecuted. in other words, an event as serious as forced disPlacement remains in total imPunity.

given that these conditions have not changed, there is still a lot of risk for those of us who suPPort these Processes, as is the case for us in the committee in solidarity with Political Prisoners, and of course for the community itself. the mere fact that we travel in a region like central cesar, where threatening fliers areregularly handed out by the same Paramilitary that have been in this region in recent years, makes accomPaniment and visibility necessary so that we can continue to carry out our work.”

leonardo jaimesmarín, lawyer from the committee in solidarity with Political Prisoners

in the centre of the dePartment of cesar, behind the Perijá mountain range in the border with venezuela, is the hamlet of Pitalito.

As reported by the Committee in Solidarity with Po-litical Prisoners, 25 peasant families were displaced from Pitalito three years ago. On 21 May 2013, 16 of these families returned to Pitalito, despite the risk from illegal armed actors who remain in the area. In way, this small community decided to reject dread and fear, confront the delicate security situation and resist in their territory. Dur-ing their three years of displacement, the uprooted fami-lies lived in a shantytown in the nearest village, without land to cultivate and therefore no income to survive with dignity. Most families have suffered at least two forced displacements: in 2000, they were displaced by paramili-tary groups, and, as denounced by the Committee in Soli-darity with Political Prisoners, in 2010 the community was illegally evicted from their land by the Army.

the lOng ROad tO pitalitOThe return is not easy return and the community faces

continued security challenges apart from legal challenges. They will have to rebuild their lives, restore their farms, construct new homes and work their fields. We accom-pany the Committee in Solidarity with Political Prisoners in their work with the community to meet these challenges.

in seaRCh Of suppORt and COMMitMent

We carry out regular meetings with civilian and mili-tary authorities in Colombia to inform them about our mis-sion and presence in the field, and with embassies and international organizations to inform about the status of the returning families. We also publish reports, videos and blogs to tell the stories of their dispossession and return.

the fight against feaRThe impact of forced displacement is devastating.

For the displaced community of Pitalito, it has meant the breakdown of social and cultural ties that held it together. Our psychosocial team isalso working with the communi-ty, including with the children. In various workshops, they have learned how to manage their fears, despair and con-cerns. Moreover, they have studied different scenarios of their return and how to react to potential risks. Now, the community feels more prepared for their return and each person knows what role to play in case of aggression.

the impact of our work

“ The role of PBI accompaniment has been very important in various re-gions where we conduct field work. This support has allowed resistance

and the defence of the rights of the peasant, indigenous and Afro-descendant communi-ties that we accompany. The accompaniment is essential because international presence becomes a deterrent and this has meant lives are saved.”

Father Alberto Franco, Inter-church Justice and Peace Commission

“ I think Peace Brigades plays a key role in saving the lives of those of us who do not believe in guns, those of us who do work that is

frowned upon in this country. It is a guarantee for daily life; I feel very safe when I’m with Peace Brigades, they are like guardian angels to me. I really feel that the daily accompani-ment lets me continue to pursue my work the way I do it; I feel much calmer.”

Claudia Julieta Duque, investigative journalist

“ PBI’s accompaniment is extremely important in the country because the Colombian State has not provided guarantees for human

rights defenders to carry out our work. PBI’s accompaniment enables many defenders to stay in the country and not have to abandon our work.”

Jorge Molano, lawyer and human rights de-fender

Recognizing the noble cause of human rights

For their tireless efforts in the defence of human rights, many organizations that we accompany have received national and international awards. For example, in 2012 the Interagency Dialogue in Colombia (DIAL), which brings together a dozen international NGOs that carry out humanitarian and international aidwork in the country, organized the National Human Rights Defenders Award, in order to raise awareness within civil societyabout the importance of this work. Jackeline Rojas, Judith Maldonado and theJosé AlvearRestrepo Lawyers Collective were the winners in 2012.

Judith Maldonado won the award in the category “Defender.” She is a member of the Luis Carlos PerezLawyers Collective, an organization working in the northeast of Colombia and Magdalena Medio, regions where the armed conflict has generated significant forced displacement.

The José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective won in the category “collective process”. The Lawyers Collective is recognized nationally and internationally for its work of legal counselling and legal representation of victims in emblematic human rights cases in in Colombia.

learn more about human rights in Colombia

About PBI Searching for justice

VIDEO

PLAYLIST

Indigenous communities Afro-descendant communities Interviews

Photo stories

blog

Our website

we hope you enjoy our publications

PBI Colombia ProjectWashington, USA

Tel. (+1) 202 232 0142repusa@pbicolombia.net

PBI Colombia ProjectBarcelona, Spain

Tel. (+34) 634 256 337coordinacion.europa@

pbicolombia.net

PBI Delegation in ColombiaBogotá, Colombia

Tel. (+57) 1287 0403coin@pbicolombia.net

help us make space for peace in colombia

your contribution is very important so that we can continue accompanying human rights

organizations in colombia.

Thank you very much!We thank you for your generosity.

The donations received will benefit human rights defenders who suffer threats because of their work on behalf of human rights.

Your contribution will be used to protect spac-es for peace in Colombia.

Sincerely,

PBI Colombia

• With US$1,800 per month, our experts on psy-chosocial support and computer security conduct work-shops for accompanied organizations and communities about reconstruction of the social fabric and information security.

• With US$5,000 per month, our representatives responsible for advocacy in North America and Europe in-form governments, NGOs, coalitions, and other members of the international community about the situation of hu-man rights defenders in Colombia.

• With US$10,000 per year, we ensure that a vol-unteer can spend day after day with the most threatened human rights defenders in regions where their lives are at risk.

• With US$25,000 per year, we guarantee our presence in the Valle del Cauca Department, where hu-man rights defenders support and accompany theNonam indigenous community, recently returned to their land, and Afro-descendant communities fighting for their rights to the territory of their ancestors.

• Any donation is invaluable for us to continue ac-companying human rights organizations in Colombia.