SPEAKING TOUR – Climate change, human rights and the struggle for peace in Colombia

Peace Brigades International in partnership with Amnesty International Canada, MiningWatch Canada and local allies are hosting a speaking tour in Canada featuring three prominent human rights defenders from Colombia who will be meeting with a wide variety of people this coming November 2-10 to share their insights about environmental protection, fracking, human rights, the role of social leaders, and the peace process in Colombia.

WHO

Colombian human rights defenders Julia Figueroa and Andrea Nocove from CCALCP and Ivan Madero from CREDHOS will be featured in this speaking tour.

The Luis Carlos Perez Lawyers’ Collective (CCALCP), an organization of eight women lawyers based in Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, works on crucial public interest issues. Julia is the Director of CCALCP, and Andrea is a lawyer with the organization.

The Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS), based in Barrancabermeja the petroleum capital of Colombia, promotes human rights through workshops, training and legal advice. Ivan is the President of CREDHOS.

They will be joined by Javier Garate, the USA and Canada Representative with the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project, who is based in Bogota. PBI-Colombia has accompanied CCALCP since 2006 and CREDHOS since 1994.

WHAT

Julia, Andrea and Ivan will be speaking on issues including environmental protection, fracking, climate change, water protection, the peace process and Indigenous rights. They will be meeting with government officials, elected representatives, NGOs, lawyers, journalists, university students and concerned individuals.

WHEN & WHERE

They will be speaking and holding meetings in Toronto (November 3), Ottawa (November 4-5), Vancouver (November 6-7) and Nanaimo (November 8).

WHY

Solidarity is crucial in the advancement of human rights. This tour will help to build awareness of the current situation in Colombia, the environmental challenges we all face, the role Canadian capital plays in Colombia, and what those of us in Canada can do to assist in the promotion of human rights and environmental justice.

HOW

Peace Brigades International-Canada is working in partnership with Amnesty International Canada, MiningWatch Canada and numerous local allies to help amplify the concerns and experiences of these three human rights defenders by facilitating meetings and public forums during this 4-community speaking tour.

Further reading

– CCALCP helped stop Toronto-based Brookfield Asset hydroelectric project in Colombia

– CCALCP, the defence of Bari territory and Judgement T-052

– CCALCP calls for the implementation of T-361 and protection of the Santurbán páramo

– CCALCP seeks the implementation of the right to free, prior and informed consent in Colombia

– CCALCP rejects Soto Norte gold mine that threatens Colombia’s drinking water

– CCALCP opposed Vancouver-based Eco Oro mining in Colombia’s Santurbán wetland

– PBI-Colombia accompanies CCALCP, the lawyers who stopped Canadian fracking in Colombia

– PBI-Colombia and CREDHOS, 25 years of accompaniment and defending human rights

– CREDHOS President Iván Madero to visit Canada in November

– PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS to look at impact of oil industry on rivers

– PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS to find grave site

– CREDHOS opposes fracking, seeks to protect freshwater

– Dr. Yésid Blanco and the struggle for environmental justice and the right to water in Colombia