Event: Voices from Colombia: challenges to resistance and defending women's and environmental rights in the territories

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The Colombian state has failed to respect and protect fundamental rights such as free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Those who raise their voices in defence of human rights in response to abuses committed connected to the development of mega-projects are being repressed. In this context, Indigenous women leaders face multiple forms of violence, including gender-based violence. When communities mobilise to defend these rights, they are stigmatised threatened and frequently criminalised. When the leaders are Indigenous women or women in the public domain, they frequently face additional challenges and gendered attacks.

The prevailing narrative of ‘progress’ and ‘development’ that accompanies mega-projects is in stark contrast to the experiences of local communities that are being impacted by these projects. As human rights defenders are killed in ever-increasing numbers in Colombia to defend the rights of communities against land grabs, megaprojects, licit, and illicit economic interests are frequently life-threatening.

Join in a conversation with three Colombian human rights defenders who will address the situation of violence and threats encountered as they seek to defend their territory from multinationals, megaprojects, and economic interests.

There will be a specific focus on the NASA Indigenous Peoples from Norte de Cauca Colombia, intersectional violence generated against women and girls, and the Dique Canal megaproject.

Come and hear from three courageous Colombian human rights defenders

Thursday 1 December 2022 | 17:00 – 19:00 |

At: CAFOD Pavilion. Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Rd, London

Chair: Sara Chandler

Professor and founder of Colombian Caravana of Lawyers. In 2016 was made an Honorary Queens Counsel for her human right work.

Speakers:

Adil Meléndez Márquez – Lawyer & human rights defender
Margarita Hilamo – Nasa Indigenous leader
Lizeth Trejos – Coordinator of the Observatory of Human Rights and Violence against Women of the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca (Codacop).

Reservation is essential – limited tickets available.

Book your ticket HERE