Colombia Peace Forum: Peace Proposals from Victims of Colombia’s Armed Conflict

In June, the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) issued a ground-breaking declaration of principles on victims, the item currently under discussion at the peace talks in Havana. They announced that they were inviting a delegation of victims to participate in the peace talks, and requested that the United Nations and the National University convene a series of forums for victims to present their proposals for satisfying their rights to truth, justice, reparations and non-repetition. Three regional victims’ forums have now taken place and a national forum is scheduled in Cali in early August.

Last week, the parties announced new guidelines for multiple delegations of victims to participate in the peace talks. They invited the UN and the National University, along with the Bishops Conference of Colombia, to provide assistance in organizing the victims’ engagement. The first delegation is due in Havana on August 16th.

Last month, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Colombia and met with victims of the conflict. He urged greater attention to human rights protections as the peace process progresses. What role can the U.S. play, both politically and financially, in facilitating an end to the conflict? What recommendations do victims' groups have for the U.S. as it prepares to support a post-war Colombia?

This event was the next in USIP's Colombia Peace Forum Series, will be co-sponsored with the Washington Office on Latin America and the Latin America Working Group Education Fund, and discussed victims' rights and proposals from four victims of different groups, including guerrillas, paramilitaries, and the State. A half a century of internal armed conflict has resulted in more than 6.5 million victims officially registered with the Colombian government's Victims' Unit. It was an opportunity to hear diverse perspectives and peace proposals from leaders who are survivors of violence.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ColombiaPeaceForum. For more information about this event, visit

Speakers:

Clara Rojas González (Video)

Colombian National Congress Representative

Luis Fernando Arias

Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC)

José Antequera Guzmán

Co-Founder, Sons and Daughters of Memory and Against Impunity

Both Spanish and English videos will be posted to this page after the event. El evento será transmitido en vivo en español en www.usip.org/webcasts. Biographies for the speakers can be found on WOLA's website.

The video shown at the beginning of the event is No Hubo Tiempo para la Tristeza/ There Was No Time for Sadness. The film clip is being used courtesy of the Centro Nacional de Memoria Histórica (Spanish with English subtitles).