Caritas calls for solidarity with the people of Colombia as the country prepares to celebrate “Peace Week – La Semana por la Paz”.

Millions of people have fled their homes and many have been killed or maimed in the forty-five year plus internal armed conflict in Colombia. It is a massive humanitarian crisis that has largely been forgotten by the world.

“Colombia shares the tragic situations of other countries such as the mass displacement in Congo, the devastation of landmines suffered in some Asian countries and the insecurity of Haiti and yet there is very little awareness about the seriousness of our situation,” says Msgr Hector Fabio Henao, secretary general of Caritas Colombia.

“In the midst of a conflict such as ours, people feel abandoned and isolated from the rest of the world. Cooperation and support has an enormous impact on these communities. It helps them feel part of one family and that their suffering is no different from that of their brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.”

To express solidarity and raise awareness about Colombia’s armed conflict and the suffering of its people Caritas is proposing some practical tips for Church communities and staff in member organisations:

• View this video about two people whose lives have been affected by the humanitarian crisis in Colombia
  
• Learn more about Caritas advocacy on Colombia
• Print this leaflet and pin it on your wall

What do you think you could do to help the people of Colombia? Find out what the policy of your Government is. Does it help communities in their search for truth, justice and reparation for crimes or does it hinder this process?

The Catholic Church believes that to achieve a lasting solution to the internal armed conflict it is vital to give voice to the many thousands of victims of paramilitary, guerrilla, state, and other victims of violence in Colombia and ensure their active participation in the road to constructing peace.

Caritas’ Colombia Working Group tirelessly lobbies governments and raises awareness on the need for “truth, justice and reparation” for victims of the armed conflict.

Peace week is celebrated every year in Colombia to raise awareness and boost commitment to finding a peaceful solution to Colombia’s conflict. It was launched in 1987 by Colombia’s Bishops’ Conference.

Learn more:

ABColombia
Caritas Colombia 

For more information, please contact Michelle Hough on +39 06 69879721/+39 334 2344136 or hough@caritas.va