Project Accompaniment and Solidarity Colombia

Comision Intereclesial Justicia y Paz

Comision Intereclesial Justicia y Paz

The Comisión Íntereclesial Justicia y Paz (Interchurch Commission of Justice and Peace) is an organization based in Colombia that defends human rights and that has worked for the past 15 years in solidarity with victims of communities that have been forcefully displaced in their struggle for truth, justice, and community healing. Justicia y Paz also works with these communities to strengthen civilian resistance in the fight for the right to life, land, self-determination, and dignity by helping build a national and international network of solidarity and support.

Members of Justicia y Paz offer popular education and provide access to psychosocial services for communities that have been seriously traumatized by paramilitary persecution. The constant presence of members of Justicia y Paz in the Afro-Colombian communities of Jiguamiando, Curvarado, and Cacarica in the department of Choco serves as a protective mechanism against armed assault. Furthermore, Justicia y Paz actively denounces the illegal operation of private companies on communal land. Justicia y Paz is currently working with 10 organizations located throughout the country that are involved in civilian resistance.

Justicia y Paz is one of the few organizations in Colombia that still dares to speak against government use of paramilitaries. The government, which is at the mercy of big land owners, drug traffickers, and transnational corporations, seeks to criminalize Justicia y Paz for its recognition that the State’s paramilitary strategy is illegal. The organization was recently the victim of a smear campaign orchestrated by the Colombian army. At a press conference held on August 21, 2003, the Commander-in-Chief of the Colombian Army accused Justicia y Paz of being the ally of the guerilla organization FARC-EP, an accusation commonly used in Colombia to silence social movements.

Red de Hermandad y Solidaridad – Colombia

Red de Hermandad y Solidaridad – Colombia

The Red de Hermandad y Solidaridad – Colombia is a network, born in 1994, composed of Red Colombia (community organizations and initiatives) and Red Europa (European organizations and unions) as well as some North American organizations. Redher endeavors to contribute to the struggle against impunity and the defense of human rights by connecting Colombian and international social organizations, to fortify the international accompaniment process alongside Colombian social organizations and their actual problems, in order to consolidate political solidarity. Redher acts on many levels: The Permanent Tribunal of peoples against transnational firms (TPP), international Tribunal of opinion (TIO), the National School of Agriculture, a boycott of Coca-Cola and campaigns against other multi-nationals, support for the processes of resistance and plans for life of the communities in resistance, notably by international accompaniment, international exposure of abuses and pressuring authorities.