9/23- Washington, DC- Addressing Economic Marginalization of Ethnic Minorities as #Colombia Transitions from Conflict to Peace The Washington Office on Latin America, AFRODES, and Global Rights are pleased to invite you to Opening Remarks by Carlos Quesada Director, Ethnic and Racial Equality Program/Advisor on the Rights of LGBT People, Global Rights Featuring Zulia Mena Mayor of Quibdó, Colombia Nelson Enrique Basto Silva and Lucelis Carrillo Barbosa Beneficiaries of USAID-funded Job Training Programs Eva Lucia Grueso Gender Program, Black Communities Process (PCN) Santiago Pinzón Galán Executive Director, National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) Azucena de Benedetti Founder and President, Strategic People (Gente Estratégica) And moderator Marino Córdoba Legal Representative, AFRODES 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Global Rights 1200 18th St NW # 602 Washington, D.C. To RSVP, please click here. The event will be in Spanish and simultaneous interpretation will be provided. For more information, please contact Adam Schaffer at +1 (202) 797-2171 or [email protected] After half a century of conflict, Colombia appears to be nearing peace, presenting a historic opportunity for the construction of a new post-conflict democratic Colombia that addresses the past’s wrongs and charts a new course toward equality, justice, and opportunities. For the transition from conflict to post-conflict to be secured, Colombia and the international community will need to seek durable solutions for the country’s nearly six million internally displaced. Disproportionately affected by displacement and violence are Afro-Colombian and indigenous persons who face serious issues of racism, social exclusion, marginalization, and lack of educational and job opportunities. While the peace accord will help stem ongoing abuses related to the internal armed conflict, a tremendous effort will be required by all actors’ concerned and the international community to address the inequalities and underlying economic and social issues that fuel violence and to fully integrate ethnic minorities into a post-conflict setting. Since 2011, USAID’s Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Program (ACIP) has begun to make a dent in addressing this serious obstacle by supporting public-private partnerships between Afro-Colombian community organizations, local municipalities, and companies that train and generate economic opportunities for ethnic minorities. As a result, over 5,000 internally displaced ethnic minorities from marginalized urban areas of Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, and Barranquilla’s have had their lives turned around with such programs. Afro-Colombian organizations and public and private participants of these efforts will present on the current challenges faced by these communities, the unique needs of these groups, lessons learned from this process, and recommendations going forward. They will suggest what type of international support will be required by the U.S. and other donor countries as Colombia transitions from conflict to peace in order to secure a lasting, inclusive peace in Colombia.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:48:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015