COLOMBIA: Colombian social groups launch campaign to prepare for post-conflict era in anticipation of successful peace negotiations

Record ID: 346886

  • Title: COLOMBIA: Colombian social groups launch campaign to prepare for post-conflict era in anticipation of successful peace negotiations
  • Date: 5th February 2014
  • Summary: GUAYABETAL, COLOMBIA (FILE) (REUTERS) SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE RED CROSS HELPING EVACUATE PEOPLE TRAPPED ON A HIGHWAY DURING ARMED CONFRONTATION
  • Embargoed: 20th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba, Colombia
  • City:
  • Country: Cuba Colombia
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAKIR4086R5A6RQIV3JPGW918Q
  • Story Text: Colombian and international social organisations launched on Wednesday (February 5) a unity campaign to prepare the country for life after five decades of war, should peace talks in Havana be successful.
    Called "Reconciliation Colombia," the campaign seeks to create and encourage a post-conflict era dialogue between different regions of the country.
    Organisers said they will promote knowledge and experiences to foster reconciliation, particularly in regions of the country which have suffered as a result of armed conflict and violence.
    "During this war, this conflict of half a century, almost no one can say that they are free of guilt. In one way or another we have contributed by act or omission in this whole situation of barbarity and violence which has arisen in our country. We are then all responsible, we all have to contribute and at the same time we have to give," said social organisations representative, Gonzalo Murillo.
    The campaign intends to promote reconciliation by rebuilding trust among Colombians in order to create opportunities and find change.
    United Nations' Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Colombia, Fabrizio Hochschild, told a news conference on Wednesday (February 5), that peace may not be found without mutual acceptance.
    "What has to be accomplished is reconciliation and that starts through tolerance, acceptance, non-stigmatizing and it is followed by processes of building trust and promoting coexistence and without that, without mutual acceptance there is no peace; with or without a peace process," he said.
    Additionally, the initiative will allow private companies, social organizations as well as local and regional governments to contribute by starting projects to generate opportunities for the population.
    Over the past five months, the team of "Reconciliation Colombia" have been researching different regions in the country in order to identify main actors, initiatives and challenges facing each region.
    Peace negotiations with the FARC began in November 2012 and are being conducted in Havana.
    The government and the FARC have fought for five decades - more than 200,000 have been killed and millions have been displaced.
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