The Colombia Working Group of Caritas Internationalis asks the European Union to maintain and strengthen its support for the Colombian peace process. Too many are still living in fear of and suffering from the conflict that has ravaged the country for almost 50 years.

“My children have known our country to be at war forever. The problems continue. For example: we were recently at home and we heard shots outside. My girls came running and knew that they had to hide somewhere to stay safe,“ said recently Miguel, a member of the Pastoral Action Team in the town of Apartado, Colombia.

Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao, Director of Caritas Colombia and a member of the Caritas Colombia Working Group, met last week with representatives of the European Union to discuss the role of the international community in the peace process. Mons. Henao said that “ensuring peace in Colombia will be the work of everyone. It requires commitment from the international community, political will from the State and those involved in the war and a decisive contribution from civil society”.

The Caritas Working Group also calls on the European Union to ensure that civil society is guaranteed access to the Trust Fund, which will be established to help implement a peace agreement in Colombia. And to ensure that citizens are able to monitor spending and ensure the funds are used effectively and transparently.

The Colombian Catholic Church and civil society play a key role in supporting peace in Colombia and in ensuring the participation of local communities and victims in the peace talks.

“Even if a peace agreement is signed in Havana, peace will not be achieved in Colombia unless civil society is part of this process and has the space and security to engage, victims are recognised, land is restored, and human rights defenders are protected,” told Mons. Henao.

The European Union must ensure truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition for the victims of the Colombian conflict.

Background information

1. Members of the Colombia Working Group met from 8-10 June in the headquarters of Caritas Europa in Brussels. The Group monitors the situation of the armed conflict in Colombia, and in particular the peace negotiations taking place in Havana. Participating in Caritas Colombia Working Group meeting were the Caritas agencies of Germany, Spain, Scotland (SCIAF), Luxemburg, France (Secours Catholique), England and Wales (CAFOD), United States (CRS) and Colombia.

2.Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao is Director of Caritas Colombia. He has participated in various peace processes, and for many years he has promoted the need for a negotiated peace and has advocated for the victims of the conflict.

3. The Government of President Juan Manuel Santos opened peace dialogues on 5 October 2012 with the aim of ending the conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.

4. This statement is also available in Spanish, courtesy of Caritas Spain

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