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An article of HSB Noticias (reprinted by permission)
Cuidad Salud is among the municipalities hardest hit by violence because of its proximity to Viotá, the epicenter of the violence of the Alto Magdalena.
Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, accompanied by Deputy Carlos Ferro, and other officials in the forum.
For several years now Colombia has been speaking of post-conflict which is expected soon when finally a number of outstanding agreements for the Peace Accord are signed in Havana. It is a peace that many see far away, but are beginning to be felt in municipalities that were seriously affected by the violence and now living with other kinds of social problems. This is the case in Tocaima which suffered from the problem of insecurity and armed groups and currently faces the problem of drug trafficking but is hoping that initiatives such as that of the government can enable them to live in harmony and peace.
An advance
Municipalities are advancing in strength for their capacities to work on reconciliation with communities in the peace process. In order to implement strategies to resolve conflicts between communities through alternative justice of conciliation, the secretaries of government and municipal representatives participated in a departmental meeting that laid the essential foundations to address the peace process and lighten the load of the courts.
Coexistence
During this first regional meeting, progress was made in strengthening the national policy of coexistence and security in the issue of reconciliation. Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, said that Cundinamarca is the first post-conflict department in the country, and it is the responsibility of mayors and ombudsmen to efficiently handle the peace process. “We work directly with communities, especially for the qualification of municipal authorities to advance the promotion and establishment of a culture of peace with foundation in reconciliation that allows the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The message is peace,” he said.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior, Carlos Ferro, explained the importance of strengthening the capacities and knowledge of ombudsmen for the issue of conflict resolution in the municipalities. “From the Ministry we are already in the process of enlisting municipalities for this. We help empower them with regard to reconciliation and post-conflict peacebuilding in all municipalities. Peace begins in the territory when we recognize the reasons that caused the conflict and design tools and strategies to solve them,” said Ferro.
What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?
This discussion question applies to the following articles:
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Chirac Foundation Prize for Conflict Prevention
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Peace is not stopped by borders (Colombia and Venezuela)
Campesinos colombianos celebran primer acuerdo agrario de paz
Colombian Govt and FARC Reach Agreement on First Stage of Peace Talks
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UN Campaign in Colombia:
Presidente colombiano reactivará la Comisión Nacional de Paz
Colombian President to Reactivate National Peace Commission
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano avanzan en acuerdos para la paz
FARC-EP and Colombia Government advance in their peace accords
Colombia debe ser también la Nación más educada en derechos humanos: Presidente Santos
Colombia should also be the most educated nation in human rights : President Santos
Gabriel García Márquez and the peace process in Colombia
Colombia amanece con un presidente reelecto, esperanzada en la paz
Colombia awakens to hopes for peace with the re-election of their president
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Women, rurality and historical memory among the themes of the Peace Congress (Bogotá, Colombia)
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Pax Christi International Peace Award 2015: Women Collective for Reflection and Action (Colombia)
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano crearán Comisión de la Verdad
Planning for a Peace Assembly in the Colombian Caribbean
Inician construcción de Asamblea por la Paz en el caribe colombiano
Colombia: Ministerio del Trabajo acompañará, garantizará y facilitará Segunda Asamblea Nacional por la Paz
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
San Agustín, Colombia: escenario de la Bienal internacional de educación y cultura de paz
San Agustin, Colombia to host International Biennial of Education and Culture of Peace
Carta de Colombia
Letter from Colombia
Colombia: Autoridades municipales se preparan para el posconflicto en Cundinamarca
Colombia: Municipal Authorities prepare for post-conflict peace-building in Cundinamarca