Take Action for Peace in Colombia

April 16, 2012

Today is the National Day of Action for Colombia. Join with thousands across the country in calling upon Congress to support policies that promote peace and justice in Colombia.

Displacement in Colombia continues to be an ongoing crisis that has forced over 5 million people from their homes. Colombia is currently the world’s leader in internally displaced peoples. The Colombian government has taken little action in curbing the violence or protecting those being forced from their homes.

The National Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia is a chance for congregations and groups across the US to ask our government to take action and pursue policies that promote protection for those at risk of displacement, seek to end all violence in Colombia, and cut off harmful military aid to Colombia.

Over the weekend President Obama was in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas. While he was there, President Obama announced that U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement, on hold for years due to serious labor and human rights concerns, will be implemented starting May 15. President Obama has chosen to continue ignoring the human rights violations occurring Colombia and implement the free-trade agreement.

Sign a petition to Congress calling for policies that promote life and dignity rather than death and violence.

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Posted by Theo Sitther

Soul-searching for Colombia

April 3, 2012

Children carry a traditional "Silleta" that reads "No more violence" during a parade for the Flower Festival on Aug. 1, 2009. (Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Palmberg, editor for Sojourners, calls on the US to do “soul-searching” on our lack of response to the continued violence in Colombia.

It’s ripped from the headlines: A young person is killed, but the police seem to be casting aspersions on the victim. It outrages us when it happens in Florida, and it should outrage us just as much when it happens further south.

Read full article >>

It is not too late to sign up for Days of Prayer Action for Colombia. Days of Prayer and Action is a great to become involved in advocating for an end to the violence in Colombia. For more information visit our website http://washington.mcc.org/days

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Posted by jacobkanagy

Days of Prayer and Action: Oiga (Listen)

March 28, 2012

Argemiro Joaquin Maza Contreras is a campesino from the Mampujan community. He was displaced from his home in 2000 by violence. (MCC Photo/Silas Crews)

In the worship packet this year there are a number of multimedia resources available to participants. These resources can be used in a worship service or small group setting. Organizers may choose to use one of multimedia resources or all of them. These resources help to visually and lyrically portray the current crisis in Colombia. Oiga (Listen), song written by Philip Hart, is a call to actively pursue peace and justice.

Listen! We will not accept this
injustice that’s presented to us.
Listen! We move forward.
We will always fight for peace. 

We encourage you to take full advantage of these great resources.

Access multimedia resources

For more information on Days of Prayer and Action

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Posted by jacobkanagy

Worship Resources for Days of Prayer and Action

March 22, 2012

The worship packet for this year’s Days of Prayer and Action has finally arrived! The packet was created by MCC Colombia workers with help from MCC partners and several volunteers. Inside the packet there are a number of helpful resources that will guide participants in constructing a service dedicated to Days of Prayer and Action. A few of the materials included are suggested hymns and other music, prayer litanies and reflections, several slide shows, and videos. A participant may choose to incorporate all of the resources or only a few into their service.

When preparing for Days of Prayer and Action it is critical to inform your congregation or group of the facts, figures, and stories from Colombia. To help inform participants there is a brief introduction containing several current issues in Colombia, and reminding participants of  the importance of advocating and praying for our brothers and sisters in Colombia.

Click for Worship Packet

For more information on Days of Prayer and Action

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Posted by jacobkanagy

Internal Displacement in Colombia

March 7, 2012

In December 2011 the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) produced a report on the Colombian government’s efforts to protect and assist the more than 5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The report looked specifically at the Santos administration’s lack of tangible action for improving the human rights conditions for IDPs.

The IDMC reports, “Colombia’s government, led since 2010 by President Juan Manuel Santos, has changed its discourse in favor of those who have suffered human rights violations due the conflict and violence within the country. However, it is yet to translate this into effective action to protect the rights of Colombia’s internally displaced people (IDPs) and other victims of conflict”

As the article explains, Colombia is currently home to the largest population of internally displaced peoples in the world. Many reforms have been promised but people continue to be displaced and suffer from human rights abuses. In 2010, when he took office President Santos promised a change in favor for those suffering from human rights violations due to violence and conflict. However, a year after Santos took office, the Observatory on Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES), the leading NGO monitoring displacement in Colombia, announced that nearly 89,000 people had been displaced in the first half of the year.

In June of 2011, the Colombian government passed legislation which became known as the “Victims’ Law.” The Victims’ Law was created to compensate roughly four million victims of the conflict. Provisions in the law included the restitution of land to IDPs. Unfortunately these provisions are yet to be realized. A report by the Colombian court indicated that in 2010 and 2011, access to certain rights; housing, income and emergency assistance still remained difficult, with only ten per cent of IDPs receiving these services. On December 1, 2011, a financing plan was created that will set aside $500 million for property restitution for IDPs. Secondary legislation is also being drafted and approved to help regulate the Victims’ Law. It is yet to be seen whether these new plans will tangibly benefit victims of the armed conflict.

Read the full report by the IDMC.

Participate in the Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia and advocate for the victims of the armed conflict.

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Posted by jacobkanagy

Colombian Churches Call for Peace

February 15, 2012

With more than five million internally displaced people, Colombia is home to the world’s greatest displacement crisis. Minority and indigenous groups such as Afro-Colombians are often affected the most. The violence is also directed at Protestant and evangelical church leaders and members. In 2009, there were at least 69 documented cases of human rights violations against the Colombian faith community. Please pray and raise awareness for our Christian brothers and sisters being affected by the violence.

To raise awareness and to stand in solidarity for those being affected by the violence in Colombia participate in the Days of Prayer and Action. washington.mcc.org/days

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Posted by jacobkanagy

Peace processes in Mampuján

February 8, 2012

Argemiro Joaquin Maza Contreras is a campesino from the Mampujan community. He was displaced from his home in 2000 by violence. (MCC Photo/Silas Crews)

In the Colombian community of Mampujan, a rare but exciting peace and reconciliation process is occurring. Mampujan is the only community that has received a sentence under Colombia’s Justice and Peace Law, allowing the community to receive reparations for their displacement. On January 18, a second hearing was held to ensure the reparations were being repaid in full. Anna Vogt from MCC’s Seed program writes about this process:

The journey of peace and reconciliation is not a straight trajectory towards a perfect goal. There are many different, yet equally valuable, ways of shaping peace and reconciliation in communities impacted by armed conflict.

Read the full article >>

*Days of Prayer and Action is a way to become involved in advocating for peace and reconciliation in Colombia. Visit the Days of Prayer and Action websiteto find out more information.*

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Posted by jacobkanagy

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