PBI-Colombia accompanies CAHUCOPANA in preparing for humanitarian tour to Northeast Antioquia

On March 16, the Humanitarian Action Corporation for Coexistence and Peace in Northeast Antioquia (CAHUCOPANA) tweeted:

“#Barrancabermeja. We are preparing for the humanitarian tour to the Northeast #Antioquia. Together with accompaniment organisations and JACs [Community Action Boards], we are analysing the tour that will include international and national government delegations, with the aim of seeking solutions to the crisis.”

The crisis in Antioquia

In January 2021, Blu Radio reported: “Defenders said that they have made multiple alerts and have warned about the situation [in Antioquia] that has been presented by the presence of different actors of illegal armed groups [including the AGC and ELN], in addition, they denounced that the authorities have turned their backs on this situation.”

The Community Peacemaking Teams (CPT) has also issued an Urgent Action, at the request of CAHUCOPANA, urging Colombian authorities to respond to the critical situation that is threatening the population of the Northeast Antioquia region.

1- Implement non-military actions that protect the civilian population and human rights organizations in the Northeast Antioquia region, seeking actions that effectively guarantee security for peace in the territory of the mining and farming communities.

2- To comply with and fully implement the Peace Agreements signed in 2016 and to generate new spaces for dialogue with the armed actors and involve the voices of the communities that resist in the midst of the conflict.

3- Provide guarantees for community leaders of Northeast Antioquia prosecuted since 2020.

4- Update the Early Warning Systems Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office No. 052-18, which has not been reviewed since June 14, 2018.

5- Comply with and fully implement the Peace Agreements signed in 2016 and protect the lives of the signatories of the agreements who live in the Territorial Spaces for Training and Rehabilitation – ETCR of Carrizal.

Canada and CAHUCOPANA

On August 11, 2022, the Embassy of Canada in Colombia tweeted: “Meeting with @PBIColombia and @CAHUCOPANA to discuss the humanitarian and security crisis in northeastern Antioquia. The situation is serious and the authorities must pay attention. We denounce the attacks and threats against communities and social leaders.”

Then on February 22 of this year, PBI-Colombia tweeted:

“Now @CAHUCOPANA presents to the international community a report: ‘Peace and dynamics of the armed conflict in Northeast Antioquia’. In the midst of serious #HumanitarianCrisis in #NortheastAntioqua there are urgent guarantees of protection for human rights organizations such as @CAHUCOPANA.”

And CAHUCOPANA tweeted:

“We especially thank the embassy of @CanadayColombia for making this type of scenario possible and @PBIColombia for their accompaniment. Making the human rights situation visible contributes to reducing the risk of leaders and the community in general. Financed by @Misereor.”

The Canadian Embassy tweeted:

Thanks to @CAHUCOPANA for presenting their troubling, but necessary annual report on Human Rights in #NortheastAntioquia to the international community. We salute your courage & essential work. Canada is proud to have provided the space.
@PBIColombia”

PBI-Colombia has accompanied CAHUCOPANA since 2013.

Preparing for the upcoming tour.