In Santa Marta, Colombia, a space for dialogue and analysis on human rights and public policies in favor of peace was proposed.Global Embassy of Activists for Peace

In Santa Marta, Colombia, a space for dialogue and analysis on human rights and public policies in favor of peace was proposed.

Colombia

At the Tayrona Palace facilities in the city of Santa Martha, Colombian Republic, political, judicial, pro-curatorial authorities, representatives of the INPEC, prosecutors, judges, journalists and members of civil society met on November 17, 2015, summoned by the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) to participate in the “Justice for Peace” forum.

In the event, the main table was chaired by Dr. Carmen Rosa Saade, Adviser to the Office of the Governor of Magdalena, representing Mr. Governor, Dr. Luis Miguel Cotte; from the Ministry of the Interior, Dr. Jenith Pérez; the Colonel Sandra Vallejo Delgado, Commander of the Metropolitan Police of Santa Marta; Dr. William Soto Santiago, Executive President of the GEAP; Iván Sarmiento Muñoz, Coordinator of the GEAP in Colombia; and Dr. Camilo Montoya Reyes, Coordinator of the Projects Council of the GEAP.

The protocol events began the forum, which framed the “Justice for Peace” Program, which seeks spaces for dialogue and reflection on issues of criminal policy, human rights, justice and strengthening of the culture of peace.

Forums like this one have already been carried out in the Republic of Colombia with the National Navy, the Naval Force, the National Police, the Army, the Association of Judges and Lawyers, and other organizations that have to do with work in the justice sector.

The welfare and happiness of the Integral Human Being and of nations is achieved with respect for human rights, the prevention of international crimes, humanization and the strengthening of justice, and the protection of the rights of Mother Earth.

The beginning of the interventions was led by Dr. Carmen Saade, who in her words of greeting and welcome exhorted the attendees to continue working for a social inclusion and a public policy with respect for all. At the same time, she was grateful to take into account the Magdalena in spaces of reconciliation and equity for the strengthening of society.

"We would like to invite you, in a very receptive way, all of you, so that we can be multipliers, not only today, but always, of what we are seeing and what we are going to see during the course of this event."

"Anyone who has suffered moral or material damage with criminal conduct or has been subject to the violation of their human rights, is considered a victim."

With this exhortation, Dr. William Soto Santiago began the presentation entitled "Victims and Transitional Justice", in which he developed the importance and the leading role played by peace dialogues in the midst of any conflict.

He pointed out the importance of recognizing that human beings are born free and equal but at the same time they different in their way of thinking and developing, which makes them unique and unrepeatable.

For Dr. Soto: "Intolerance in the face of the different and the absence of dialogue, intensifies the conflicts directed to its actors, to violence; and violence prevents children from going to schools, threatens and displaces peasants from their farms and indigenous people from their natural habitat ", therefore, he emphasizes on the importance of peace as a supreme good, noting that GEAP will always be willing to serve in the construction of the very much desired peace.

Finally, referring to the peace process that is taking place in Colombia, he indicated that victims have the right to impartial, prompt and effective justice, that the truth must be given within the framework of respect for human dignity and that the dialogue reaches reconciliation. In this way, he concluded by saying that this is how the peace that the Colombian nation needs is built.

Public management for the respect of human rights, subject to the Constitution and the Laws, and protection of life, honors and assets for the reconstruction of the social fabric.

With the emblem "God and Fatherland", two of the fundamental values that guide the Colombian National Police, Colonel Sandra Vallejo guided his intervention towards the reflection of the joint and solidary work that must be carried out by the family, society and the State.

In his speech, he indicated with statistics the current state of the situations he faces every day and that lead him to think about what society is failing and the lack of values that human beings go through.

"We must demand that the authorities themselves do what they have to do, and that is when we will truly find peace and security; to demand that public safety be built from the principles of the concepts of human security. And what is human security? It is nothing more or nothing less than giving citizens the minimum vital for their existence, giving them training; ask our young people what we have not given them”.

The closing of the meeting was enlivened by the children of the Afrodescendant Foundation "Nelson Mandela", who with their dances and music gave a cultural show of their region.

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Date: 
access_time Tuesday, November 17, 2015