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Creating Peace and Finding Justice in Colombia

Date:
Location:
210 House Visitor Center

Hearing Notice

As Colombian and international observers look with hope to the on-going peace negotiations between the Colombian government and Colombia’s largest guerrilla organization, a number of human rights issues remain critical. The Labor Action Plan, which aimed to provide adequate protection of workers’ rights in Colombia, faces many challenges in its implementation and has not prevented labor activists from becoming targets of intimidation and deadly attacks. Under President Santos’s signature Law on Victims’ Rights and Land Restitution, many of Colombia’s internally displaced are trying to reclaim their land and face serious threats and killings for their activities. And as peace negotiations move forward, Colombia struggles to find an effective approach to transitional justice. Many are now concerned that concessions made at the negotiating table may leave the victims of fifty years of violent conflict without justice but with the burden of reconciliation.

This hearing will provide an update on the ongoing peace negotiations and an overview of continuing human rights challenges. More specifically, the hearing will address the status of labor rights, obstacles to land restitution efforts, and recommendations on effective mechanisms for transitional justice. It will also highlight particular challenges faced by Colombia’s indigenous population and Afro-Colombian communities.

If you have any questions, please contact the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at 202-225-3599 or tlhrc@mail.house.gov

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

  • William Duncan, Director of Andean Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Panel II

  • Adam Isacson, Senior Associate for Regional Security Policy, Washington Office on Latin America
    Writen testimony
  • Dr. Virginia M. Bouvier, Senior Program Officer for Latin America, United States Institute of Peace
    Written testimony

Panel III

  • Celeste Drake, Trade and Globalization Policy Specialist, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
    Written testimony
  • Max Schoening, Colombia Researcher, Human Rights Watch
    Written testimony
  • Liliana Ávila, Human Rights Attorney, Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission
    Written testimony
  • Jomary Ortegón, Human Rights Attorney, Jose Alvear Restrepo Collective of Lawyers
    Written testimony
Meeting Documents
  • Statement from the Government of Columbia
  • Statement from Rep. Wilson Arias Castillo, Columbian Chamber of Representatives of the Columbian Congress
  • Statement from Faith Leaders on the Peace Process
  • Statement from Dr. Gabe Twose, Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues

Transcript

Transcript

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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