Public communication directed at the discussion table of Habana, the Colombian society, and the international community

[Translated by Jessica Schwartz, CSN Volunteer Translator]

Source: Colectivo de Abogados, Familiares de Víctimas

The victims and defenders of human rights continue being objected to different violent actions, attacks, and intimidations. Particularly, the five delegations that attended Havana were presented with repeated threats, displacement [by troops], and attacks including the homicide of Dayan Camilo Liz Potosi, the 17-year-old son of one of the five participations of the delegation. It is imperative that we stop the re-victimization of these victims. We consider it essential to protect the physical and moral integrity of the victims, their organizations and accompanying members, through political and pertinent legal means.

On February 18, 19, and 20, 2015, five delegates attended the table of dialogues in Habana along with the United Nations, the National University, the Colombian Episcopal Council, and other diplomatic representatives. From our experiences and diversity, we express the following:

  1. We consider it urgent that we resolve the armed conflict and show our willingness to contribute to this objective. We insist on the necessity to overcome the exploratory phase of these dialogues with the ELN (National Liberation Army) to effectively negotiate the end of the armed conflict.
  1. The recognition and legitimacy of the victims should be the center of this process, emphasizing diversity and uniqueness without any type of discrimination and reflecting the proposals and agreements that thousands of victims have created through their participation. This is fundamental for the stability of the victims. In developing these agreements, there should be special attention to the themes of gender and ethnicity as well as children, adolescents, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The delegates should continue being vigilant of the results from the viewpoint of the victims, and we hope to have knowledge of the advances of the process and the effective communication channels for the decisions that affect the victims.
  1. We believe that truth is most fundamental to developing a national purpose. We ask that the representatives of the government and FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) respond promptly to the demands requested by the country’s victims in exchange for the recognition of [the government’s] responsibilities; the mechanisms of identifying the perpetrators; the search of the disappeared and kidnapped; and the improved conditions of the imprisoned. Among other urgent issues, these means will help guarantee peace in the territories.
  1. It is imperative to end re-victimization. We consider it essential to protect the physical and moral integrity of the victims, their organizations and accompanying members, through political and pertinent legal means. We display our preoccupation for the continued actions of paramilitary groups that have operated in the territories under different denominations, have continued affecting the civil population through their actions, and have impeded development in the communities.
  1. The victims and defenders of human rights continue being objected to different violent actions, attacks, and intimidations. Particularly, the five delegations that had attended Habana were presented with repeated threats, displacement [by troops], and attacks including the homicide of Dayan Camilo Liz Potosi, the 17-year-old son of one of the five participations of the delegation. The Fiscalía General de la Nación (Prosecutor General) should conduct investigations regarding these facts and, in general, regarding the actions committed against the country’s victims, for whom they should clearly identify and punish accordingly those responsible.
  1. We ratify the national outcry for the de-escalation of the conflict. We demand that those involved take actions to guarantee the life of the communities and their territories, under principles of reciprocity and joint responsibility.
  1. The composition of the five delegates is an evident example of the different experiences and damages that have not yet been recognized and repaid by the named institutions. For this reason, we deem it necessary to open a national discussion on reforming laws affecting victims.
  1. Full compensation of victims is an outstanding debt. To settle this debt, it is necessary to reassess the consistency of the national development plan and achieve a real agreement regarding the state budget and recognize the connections between all actors and the victims. The prosecution of corruption should also be an objective linked to the pursuit of sustainable repair.
  1. Looking ahead to continue the undertaken effort, we consider it necessary for the United Nations, Episcopal Conference, and National University to work for an end of the conflict by sponsoring ongoing initiatives and joint action of peace education, disclosure of evidence in all regions of the country, advocacy and participation, memory and truth, and guarantees that past crimes will not be repeated. Finally, we call upon Colombian society to reflect and to work for peace by generating an inclusive culture that aims for social equality, respect and tolerance for the differences that enable our future, and dignity of the presence to remember our past.

Signed by the five delegates that attended Habana.

Ángela María Giraldo

Alfonso Mora León

Constanza Turbay

Débora Barros

Jaime Peña

Janeth Bautista

Jorge Vásquez

José Antequera

Leyner Palacios

Luz Marina Bernal Parra

María Eugenia Cruz

Nelly González

Teresita Gaviria

Juanita Barragán

Marisol Garzón

Gloria Luz Gómez

Esaud Lemos Maturana

Reinel Barbosa Cájica

Gabriel Bisbicús

María Choles Toro

Marleny Orjuela Manjarrés

Esperanza Uribe

Yessika Hoyos Morales

Consuelo G. de Perdomo

Alan Jara.

Luis Herlindo Mendieta Ovalle

Emilcen Hernández Perdomo

Aida Avella

Camilo Umaña

Martha Luz Amorocho

Ximena Ochoa

María Victoria Liu

Luis Fernando Arias Arias

Soraya Bayuelo Castellar

Nancy Yamila Galárraga

Erika Paola Jaimes Jaimes

María Zabala

Jineth Bedoya

Luz Marina Cuchumbé

Wilfrido Landa Caicedo

María Jackeline Rojas Castañeda

Lisinia Collazos Yule

German Graciano Posso

Guillermo Murcia Duarte

Nora Elisa Vélez O.

Alberto Tarache Niño

Juan Carlos Villamizar

Tulio Murillo Ávila

Camilo Villa

María Susana Portela

Juan Manuel Hernández Sosa

Piedad Córdoba Ruiz

Domingo Tovar Arrieta

Hermana Gloria Cecilia Londoño

Francia Márquez

Jairo Barreto López

Mauricio Armitage

Nilson Antonio Liz Marín

Isabella Vernaza Paredes

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