On 28 and 29 March 2022, CAHUCOPANA, an organization with whom CPT Colombia partners, will host a Humanitarian Action in Carrizal, a village in the municipality of Remedios, Antioquia. The Humanitarian Action seeks to uphold respect for International Humanitarian Law, protect the local population who are being severely affected by the armed conflict in the territories, and guarantee the rights and basic needs of the population.
This area of Antioquia is in the middle of a power battle between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC). There are several communities whose homes and lands have become battlefields, causing displacement, forced disappearance and assassinations. In the municipalities of Remedios and Segovia alone, there were approximately 100 murders throughout the year 2021 and 23 during 2022.
The village of Carrizal was selected as a Territorial Space for Training and Reincorporation (ETCR) in the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, which implied the presence of a military base in the area. The concern of the inhabitants of the area is that despite the military presence, the community still lacks security guarantees or acts of protection.
We ask our wide support network to hold this Humanitarian Action in their thoughts and prayers so that it may be carried out with all the social guarantees for and by the people. We pray that the dignity and rights of Colombian rural communities are protected and that the action serves as a catalyst to continue joining forces in favour of people, life, peace, and the earth. May their voices, their testimonies and life stories be taken into account and may there be real guarantees from the governments.
CAHUCOPANA has been walking alongside the communities in Northeast Antioquia for 17 years, constantly working for comprehensive territorial peace.
