For over half a century armed groups in Colombia have battled one another and the state across the country. The FARC, ELN, AUC, AGC, and the infamous drug cartels, have committed untold atrocities on everyday Colombians. These groups use violence to control the local population and to assert territorial control over illicit drug production and trafficking routes.

This episode is about the people who live in those areas, those that have suffered at the hands of armed groups and organized crime, and those who put themselves at risk to fight for a better future for their communities.

Speaker(s):

Felipe Botero Escobar, Head of Colombia Programmes, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime

Joshua Mitrotti - Director of Somos Comunidad (Resilience Community). Somos Comunidad is backed by USAID, and implemented by FUPAD Colombia and the PADF, who work alongside GI-TOC. Through a series initiatives in rural communities affected by violence, Somos Comunidad is trying to enhance community resilience and contribute to human security.

Community Leaders – Yolima, Yenis, Nancy, Luz, Luis

Initiative Beneficiaries – Jamileth, Dana, Dayanis, Nicole, Sofia

Links:

Somos Comunidad

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

PADF

Research Links:

https://www.eluniversal.com.co/sucesos/masacre-en-el-carmen-de-bolivar-mi-hijo-era-un-nino-venia-de-la-tienda-NF3447834

https://aldianews.com/en/culture/destinations/worlds-first-soda-pop

https://www.semana.com/nacion/cartagena/articulo/golpe-a-la-delincuencia-caen-13-presuntos-integrantes-de-la-subestructura-heroes-del-caribe/202204/

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-leader-violent-clan-del-golfo-drug-trafficking-organization-pleads-guilty

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/VC.IHR.PSRC.P5?locations=CO

https://colombiareports.com/assassinations-driving-increase-in-colombias-homicides-report/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/771130/The_mental_health_needs_of_gang-affiliated_young_people_v3_23_01_1.pdf

https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-05-27/the-forced-recruitment-of-child-soldiers-in-colombia-families-are-uprooted-isolated-and-threatened.html

https://www.savethechildren.net/blog/child-recruitment-colombia-fear-river

https://insightcrime.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Estudio-de-caracterizacion-de-ninez-desvinculada-de-grupos-armados-organizados-al-margen-de-la-ley-2013-2022-1.pdf

https://www.rcnradio.com/colombia/antioquia/cerca-de-500-indigenas-en-riesgo-de-desplazamiento-por-combates-en-caceres

https://colombiareports.com/colombias-front-lines-drug-war-cauca/

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Another-Murder-in-Cauca-137-Social-Leaders-Killed-in-2022-20221007-0018.html

https://participedia.net/case/5661

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/12/23/on-patrol-with-the-indigenous-guards-of-colombia

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/23/colombian-activist-killings-hit-record-high-in-2022-ombudsman#:~:text=Carlos%20Camargo%20said%20in%20a,2021%20and%20182%20in%202020.

https://www.wradio.com.co/2023/07/11/precandidato-a-la-alcaldia-de-santa-ana-magdalena-atacado-a-piedras/

https://marketresearchtelecast.com/the-murder-of-three-people-in-southwestern-colombia-brings-the-number-of-massacres-so-far-this-year-to-54/107196/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/world/americas/colombia-february-christmas-quinamayo.html

Disclaimer: Somos Comunidad is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content of this episode is the responsibility of GI-TOC, and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.