THE COLOMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK PRESENTS "The Crisis in Colombia: 10TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION OF COLOMBIA" October 25-27, 1996 at Hunter College New York City Friday October 25 11:00 - 12:00 PM REGISTRATION Room 415W Hunter College West Building, Manhattan 12:00 - 1:00 PM WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION - PLENARY 1:15 - 2:45 PM TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS - PART I A. FUNDRAISING Facilitator: Alex Patino, Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Panelists: Betty Kapatanakis, The Northstar Fund Sarah Collins, The Foundation Center Steve Fahrer, formerly of the Funding Exchange and currently at the Progressive Asset Management Description: * Who and where are the foundations that extend grants to Latin America/Colombia oriented human rights groups? * How do we approach these foundations? * What are the related legal and technical issues, e.g. 501(c)3? * What groups in the Network have received grant money in the past, and how did they accomplish this? B. COLOMBIA IN THE MEDIA - WHO'S STORY AND WHY? Facilitator: Mario Murillo, Public Affairs Director, WBAI Radio Panelists: John Nuyerekas, editor of Extra published by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) Charlie Roberts, Colombia Human Rights Committee, Washington, D.C. and Editor of "Colombia Update" Description: In this workshop, we will examine how the corporate media cover events in Latin America and the spin they put on news relating to U.S. policy in the region. We will have a particular focus on the coverage of the drug war, and ask why is Colombia only covered within the context of this phenomenon. We will also discuss ways to put pressure on the media to tell a different story. 2:45 - 3:15 PM BREAK 3:15 - 4:45 PM TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS - PART II A. SISTER CITY PROJECT Facilitator: John Fournelle, Colombia Support Network Panelists: Jack Laun, Colombia Support Network/Dane County-Apartado SisterCity; Representative from a Niacargua-sister city project. Description: An important way to develop interest, knowledge and solidarity with people in beleaguered Colombian communities is through sistering projects and organizing delegations to Colombia. Discussion of the key role of activists in these projects and the role (legitimatization essentially) of US local government bodies. B. CREATING MEDIA Facilitator: Maria Victoria Maldonado, Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Panelists: Dee Dee Halleck, founding member and current director of Deep Dish Television, (the only Public Access Satellite Network in the United States) Alex Patino, member of Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Description: Creating community media in the United States: A brief history; what is available for community use? What can grassroots organizations do to form their own local network? What is Deep Dish TV? How do we get access? How de we create links with other countries? Examples from Guatemala, and Brazil. Dee Dee will also bring a report from the international popular media conference in Brazil held this past July. 4:45 - 6:30 PM BREAK FOR DINNER 6:30 - 9:00 PM PLENARY DEMOCRACY AND THE DRUG WAR: COLOMBIA, THE U.S. AND THE THREATS TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE HEMISPHERE Facilitator: Mario A. Murillo, Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Panelists: Zulia Garcia Mena, Afro-Colombian congresswoman for El Choco Colombia Anatolio Quira, Coconuco Indian, and former Senator in the National Senate of Colombia; member of the Human Rights Committee of the Indigenous regional Council of Cauca (CRIC) Carlos Salinas, Amnesty International,Washington DC Other Invited Guests Description: This panel will address the situation of human rights in Colombia within the context of the U.S. sponsored war on drugs in the region. We will specifically examine the impact the drug war has had on minority communities in Colombia, as well as people of color in urban sectors of the United States. Saturday October 26 8:30 - 9:00 AM REGISTRATION Room 415W Hunter College West Building, Manhattan 9:00 - 10:00 AM PLENARY WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO HUMAN RIGHTS WORK IN COLOMBIA- HUMAN RIGHTS INTERPRETATIONS Facilitated by Colombia Vive, Boston Description: Panelists look at what the term "human rights" actually means when it relates to Colombia, and what challenges human rights activists in Colombia face when carrying out their work. 10:15 AM - 11:45 PM WORKSHOPS - ISSUES INTO ACTION - PART I A. THE U.S. ROLE IN COLOMBIA: DECERTIFICATION AND THE DRUG WAR MYTH Facilitator: Winifred Tate, Amnesty International Colombia Coordinator Panelists: Coletta Youngers, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) Carlos Salinas Amnesty International, Washington D.C. Description: What is the current U.S. role in Colombia in relation to the military funding, the effects of decertification, the war on drugs, pressure on Samper to resign, and potential US support for human rights initiatives. B. WOMEN IN COLOMBIA: THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND GENDER EQUALITY Facilitator: Pilar Hernandez, Colombia Vive, Boston Panelists: Zulia Garcia Mena, Afro-Colombian congresswoman for El Choco Avelina Pancho, delegate from the Indigenous Regional Council of Cauca, (CRIC) Description: The panelists will discuss among other issues: 1. The policies and laws which have most impacted women in Colombia both positively and negatively. 2. The rights which have been historically denied to Afro-Colombian and Indigenous women 3. Expand on accomplishments of women who are (or have been) political leaders in Colombia. C. FACELESS JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW Facilitator: John Fournelle, Colombia Support Network, Madison Panelists: Jack Laun, Colombia Support Network/Dane County- Apartado Sister City Project Lori Berenson Family Representative Description: Using the rule of law: repression and facilitation of the state's iron rule over the population. The rule of law used against political, civic and labor self-organization and protest. The workshop will also discuss the status of the March 1997 Faceless Justice in the Americas Conference (in Madison) 12:00 - 1:00 PM LUNCH 1:15 - 3:15 PM PLENARY THE POLITICAL CRISIS AND NATIONAL DIALOGUE: DOES PEACE HAVE A CHANCE? Facilitator: Ivan Rada, Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Panelists: Marc Chernick, professor of Latin American Studies at Johns-Hopkins University Eduardo Pizarro, Professor of the National University of Colombia Mauricio Lopez, Colombian Sociologist Michael Jimenez, professor of History, University of Pittsburgh Steve Dudley, Peace Brigades International 3:30 - 5:00 PM WORKSHOPS - ISSUES INTO ACTION - PART II A. LEGISLATIVE ACTION Facilitator: Winifred Tate Panelists: Martha Soto, office of Rep. Jim McDermott Coletta Youngers, WOLA, Washington Office on Latin America Description: Discuss possible strategies to encourage US support for human rights initiatives for Colombia; discuss the effectiveness of previous strategies. B. OUTREACH: MOBILIZING THE U.S. COMMUNITY Facilitator: Chicago Colombia Human Rights Committee Panelists: John Fournelle, Colombia Support Network, Madison Matt Meyer, War Resisters League and Fellowship of Reconciliation - Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean T.B.A., Representative from Pax Christi Description: The magnitude of the human rights disaster in Colombia is compounded by the lack of information and knowledge on the part of North Americans who are otherwise in tune to hemispheric themes, e.g. who have supported the people of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, and now Chiapas. CSN's active outreach campaign has shown that grassroots support for Colombia is possible, but must be consciously organized. How can the use of electronic networking be used as an organizational tool within the North American - Colombian communities. C. NEOLIBERALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COLOMBIAN WORKING PEOPLE Facilitator: Jose Calero Colombia Multimedia Project, NYC Panelists: Greg Wilpert, Committee for Real and Equitable Economic Development (CREED) Description: Neoliberalism, its impact on the Colombian economy, workers, and the environment. 5:15 - 6:15 PM PLENARY ISSUES INTO ACTION - NETWORK IDENTITY Facilitator: David Wilson, Nicaraguan Solidarity Network Open Discussion: * What is the future of Network? * What are at least three points/positions of agreement Committees Share? * Potential shared programming for Network * Discuss proposals from morning's Issues Into Action Workshops. * Role of National News bulletin ** BREAK ** 8:00 - 12:00 MIDNIGHT The Colombia Multimedia Project invites conference participants to enjoy a Colombian cultural event featuring Colombian singer Lucia Pulido. To be held at the Brecht Forum (122 West 27th Street, 10th Floor). For registered conference participants only. Sunday October 27 9:00 - 10:00 AM UPDATES ON WORKSHOPS - PLENARY * 10:15 - 2:30 PM FUTURE OF NETWORK - PLENARY * * Committees vote on: * At least three points/positions of agreement Committees Share * Shared programming for Network * Proposals from Issues Into Action Workshops * National News bulletin * Tours/Delegations 2:30 - 3:00 PM ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW-UP TO NATIONAL CONFERENCE - PLENARY* * An outside facilitator will be used for these sessions. REGISTRATION Registration cost: $15.00 (for entire weekend; includes invitation to Saturday evening cultural event.) Contact: Colombia Multimedia Project via telephone: 212-802-7209 via email: mmcompa@igc.apc.org gonzay@aol.com ver 9.30.96