If you live in the United States, you know that our country is in an emergency, as we respond to the racist fear-mongering of a new presidency. You may be less aware of the continuing emergencies in other nations such as Colombia. But human rights workers there...
san jose de apartado
State Retracts Peace Community Smear – But President Doesn’t Show
By FOR Colombia Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 10:41am By Emily Schmitz The brutal massacre that took the lives of eight civilians, including three children on February 21, 2005 in the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartadó, has become an emblematic case of government...
Army Actions Increase Risk for FOR and Peace Community
By John Lindsay-Poland We are concerned that Colombian Army actions in San José de Apartadó put peace community residents and FOR observers in acute danger, and are in violation of the recent Colombian Constitutional Court ruling regarding the security of peace...
Criminal proceedings for top commanders in 2005 massacre get traction
By Susana Pimiento After eight years, the criminal investigation for the role of high military officials in the 2005 massacre in the San Jose Peace Community is finally getting some traction. On the eve of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s visit to...
Rebuilding Trust
Landmark Legal Victory for the Peace Community By Susana Pimiento The 2013 New Year came with some good news of hope for justice. On January 18, the Colombian Constitutional Courtpublished a decision that incorporated conditions that the peace community of San José...
Paramilitary Pressure in La Esperanza
By FOR Colombia Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12:32pm By Emily Schmitz, Charlotte Melly, Elisabeth Rohrmoser and Gina Spigarelli The rural farming community of La Esperanza, remotely scattered through dense jungle, lies three hours walking from the nearest town in one...
Video from Colombia: “Without accompaniment, we wouldn’t be here”
By FOR Thursday, November 29, 2012, 3:57pm We have exciting news about the impact of your work on the San José de Apartadó Peace Community. This year, while celebrating the Peace Community’s 15-year anniversary, we interviewed community members about why the...
International Court Investigates Colombia for “False Positive” Killings
By Susana Pimiento On November 15, the International Criminal Court gave Colombia a clear warning that the Court expects accountability at the senior level for the serious crimes that fall under its jurisdiction, or else it may pursue a formal investigation. The...