Great Hope for Colombia

Statement released by WILPF celebrating Colombia’s historic peace agreement. Read or download the full statement below or find the original here.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREAT HOPE FOR COLOMBIA

June 24, 2016

After more than 50 years of fighting, one of the world’s longest conflicts is getting closer to an end as a historic ceasefire has been signed by the Colombian government and the FARC-EP rebel movement on 23 June.

“As a feminist and pacifist international organisation that has worked for peace and disarmament for more than 101 years, WILPF Colombia celebrates the official announcement of the agreement on point 3 (on the end of the conflict) of the negotiation agenda that the government of Colombia and the FARC-EP are carrying out in la Havana, Cuba,” states WILPF Colombia in an email.

“Although we are still waiting for the final signing of all the negotiated points of the agreement and its approval by the Colombian people, today we celebrate the progress of what we consider one of the most historical points and that lays the foundation for the building of a sustainable and lasting peace in Colombia. We thank all the organisations and all the women who have joined us in this process to make this day a reality.”

The conflict in Colombia has claimed some 220,000 lives. More than 5 million people are estimated to have been displaced.