"If covid-19 doesn’t kill us, the violence or hunger will”.
The Pastor Rutilio Rivas (Mennonite)
During the last three months of the present year (February - May 2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, once again, the social injustices from a neoliberal model, that demands to look after the income and the big capital, while millions of people are living in poverty and a huge social vulnerability. During Iván Duque’s government, deals on health coverage and quality, pension reforms, unemployment, informal economies, labor flexibility and the educational privatization, have gone worse.
In addition, the threats and murders of social leaders (over one hundred on the first trimester of 2020)
In addition, the threats and murders of social leaders (over one hundred on the first trimester of 2020)
causing a humanitarian crisis; and the States’ progressive infringement on The Havana Peace Agreement, plus, the breaking of the dialogues with both, the guerrilla and the ELN.
Situations have gotten worst in Chocó. The Pastor Rutilio Rivas (Mennonite) summarizes the social crisis due to the pandemic, and the armed conflict, in one scathing phrase: “if covid-19 doesn’t kill us, the violence or hunger will”. With the pandemic, the quarantine measurements, and the social isolation, many regions are dealing with a food crisis because most of the population (80%) live under the informal
Situations have gotten worst in Chocó. The Pastor Rutilio Rivas (Mennonite) summarizes the social crisis due to the pandemic, and the armed conflict, in one scathing phrase: “if covid-19 doesn’t kill us, the violence or hunger will”. With the pandemic, the quarantine measurements, and the social isolation, many regions are dealing with a food crisis because most of the population (80%) live under the informal
economies, commerce, agriculture, and artisanal mining; leaving most of them without a livelihood.
According to a diagnosis made by Justapaz, in order to raise a humanitarian aid to the Religious Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, we delivered a result of 300 church families (700 people) with high vulnerability living conditions and armed conflict victims, and to whom the governments support hasn’t reached yet.
According to a diagnosis made by Justapaz, in order to raise a humanitarian aid to the Religious Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, we delivered a result of 300 church families (700 people) with high vulnerability living conditions and armed conflict victims, and to whom the governments support hasn’t reached yet.
Pilgrimage for peace:
Medio San Juan
Chocoano
Through the humanitarian journey, we visit 6 populations from Medio San Juan Chocoano in order to deliver assistance, document any violation of the human rights, and get to know the peace, development, and reconciliation initiatives from the citizens and churches.
Peaceful Experiences
Ecumenical liturgy for Peace
Bread, life and shared cultures. Under the principal of spiritualty, we shared with the community an African and ecumenical liturgical celebration, respecting ancestralities and the spiritual diversities in El Chocó.
Peace and reconciliation initiatives (Collective Resistance actions)
During the humanitarian visit, we met non-violent collective resistance towards the armed conflict, building peace and reconciliation exercises inside the territories, essential for the reconstruction of a social fabric damaged by the war.
San Juan’s typical food
Along the process, we saw the importance of both, ancestry and culture, through gastronomy. Chocó’s typical food tell stories, and they are prepared following a tradition and a cultural baggage. This is why we want you to get to know the exact building process of the delicious typical food from Chocó.
Hope testimonies in the middle of the armed conflict
It’s important to recall the territorial living histories, therefore, in the following video, you will find the citizens, female and male leaders voices from Chocó, whom will tell us their reality and the process they develop as they pursue the peace and reconciliation.
Pilgrimage for peace
Due to the issues occurring in the territory, and the lack of attention given by the State, there’s the need to perform a humanitarian pilgrimage for peace, along with the churches and the citizens from the Medio San Juan Chocoano region, as an expression of sympathy towards the armed conflict situations, and the new social damages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The activities that took place were:
- Synchronous dialogues between female and male leaders from the region and delegates from global Ministries, in order to share experiences and testimonies in regards of the cultural treasures, ancestral traditions and liturgical celebrations on behalf of the reconciliation.
- Humanitarian tours over 6 populations from the Medio San Juan Chocoano, in order to deliver assistance, document any violation of the human rights, and get to know the peace, development, and reconciliation initiatives from the citizens and churches.
- Routs to the incidence through biblical collective reflections and proposals, to visualize the different armed conflict situations, and the urgent measures, posed by de citizens, to the State and the international community.
- Forum on political activism for peace.
Previous experiences
2018
Pastoral and humanitarian visit to the southern Chocó IPS Memoria Iglesias - Ciederpaz y Justapaz
Due to the impact of the armed conflict in the Medio San Juan Chocoano, detected as a red zone because of the paramilitary group, and the ELN, through 2018, organizations such as Ciederpaz, Justapaz, the Ombudsman’s Office, among others, cooperated along with social female and male leaders, from this region, in order to make a visit to provide humanitarian aid and create a joint action in pursuit of a collective repair of the territory.
Pastoral and humanitarian visit to the southern Chocó IPS Memoria Iglesias - Ciederpaz y Justapaz
Due to the impact of the armed conflict in the Medio San Juan Chocoano, detected as a red zone because of the paramilitary group, and the ELN, through 2018, organizations such as Ciederpaz, Justapaz, the Ombudsman’s Office, among others, cooperated along with social female and male leaders, from this region, in order to make a visit to provide humanitarian aid and create a joint action in pursuit of a collective repair of the territory.
2017
Unión Berrecui - Chocó ISP
El Baudó, a territory that has been abandoned by the Colombian State, has turned into a strategic location for the armed groups; strengthening the conflict and increasing the use of terror and violence towards the local population. The union Berrecui, comprised by three communities (Berrecui, Angostura and Aguacatico), was displaced in 2010 due to the outlaw groups.
Justapaz, along with the local citizens, created spaces where they could build memory by naming the tragic events that have happened in the community, creating a path towards ‘The new Hope’; demanding for truth, justice, and repair.
Unión Berrecui - Chocó ISP
El Baudó, a territory that has been abandoned by the Colombian State, has turned into a strategic location for the armed groups; strengthening the conflict and increasing the use of terror and violence towards the local population. The union Berrecui, comprised by three communities (Berrecui, Angostura and Aguacatico), was displaced in 2010 due to the outlaw groups.
Justapaz, along with the local citizens, created spaces where they could build memory by naming the tragic events that have happened in the community, creating a path towards ‘The new Hope’; demanding for truth, justice, and repair.
2017
International day for the elimination of violence against women
“How can we talk about peace when a woman’s dignity is nonexistent?”:
Trough ages, women have been victims of several kinds violence, including the lack of legislation and tools that guarantee judicial assistance in case of situations where their life or dignity is being threatened. Clearly, this has created even more inequity and vulnerability towards the women’s rights.
International day for the elimination of violence against women
“How can we talk about peace when a woman’s dignity is nonexistent?”:
Trough ages, women have been victims of several kinds violence, including the lack of legislation and tools that guarantee judicial assistance in case of situations where their life or dignity is being threatened. Clearly, this has created even more inequity and vulnerability towards the women’s rights.
