RESOURCE AFRO-COLOMBIANS Promoting Alternatives to Violence, Displacement, and Impoverishment 3

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me descendants remained enslaved because he has anointed me to until Colombia formally abolished bring good news to the poor. He the practice in 1851. Colombia's has sent me to proclaim release coastal lands provided refuge to to the captives and recovery of those who fled enslavement to live sight to the blind, to let the in defiant palenque (escaped slave) oppressed go free, to proclaim communities. The department the year of the Lord’s favor. (state) of El Chocó, reportedly the Luke 4:18-19 first regional administrative black territorial division, was created in Colombia is presently experiencing 1945.5 the worst human rights crisis in the Americas. It has suffered over four Today, most Afro-Colombians live in decades of internal conflict, poverty along the Atlantic and exacerbated in recent decades by Pacific coasts where their ancestors an illicit drug trade. Every sector of had settled, or in urban areas. Colombian society has been Significant numbers of Afro- affected by the decades of terror Colombians have also moved south. and violence. Rich and poor alike According to the U.S. State have all felt its impact, but this Department, the departments in protracted conflict has taken the Colombia with the largest number of greatest toll on Colombians living in Afro-Colombians are Valle, extreme poverty — a Antioquia, Bolivar, Atlantico, disproportionate number of whom Magdalena, and Cordoba, while the are Afro-Colombians. As with the Map courtesy of The General Libraries , The University of Texas at Austin department of Chocó has the “War on Drugs” in the United States, the exile of community leaders, and an highest percentage of Afro- minority populations in Colombia have incapacity to exercise cultural practices. Colombian residents, at 85 percent.6 been more affected than others by this war on drugs as well as by the ongoing United States policy toward this troubled As in the African-American experience, civil conflict in their country. country has focused primarily on drug Afro-Colombians have faced centuries trafficking, and more recently on of disenfranchisement and According to the U.S. State Department, terrorism. As a result, foreign aid to discrimination. The UN High 4,416 civilians died as a result of Colombia has been mostly military in Commissioner for Human Rights notes politically motivated homicides in that an estimated 80 percent of Afro- 1 nature, and has also included funds to Colombia during 2002. Conflict, support aerial fumigation of illegal Colombians live in conditions of political violence, and human rights narcotics crops and to protect an oil extreme poverty (nationwide 17.7 violations in Colombia have produced pipeline. Critics argue that these percent of the total population lives one of the world’s largest uprooted policies have only served to prolong the populations, with one million people conflict and damage the environment. registering with the government as Additionally, there is little attention given displaced between 2000 and 2003, and to the damaging effect of these unofficial estimates of 3 million since programs on minority and indigenous 1985.2 The United Nations Refugee communities in Colombia. CHURCH WORLD SERVICE Office in Bogotá said that “although the number of new displaced people 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 700 registered in Colombia in 2003 was BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND AND AND HISTOR HISTORY Y NY, NY 10115 212-870-2061 lower than the previous year, the scale of displacement continues to grow every P.O. Box 968 Elkhart, IN 46515 While exact figures vary, according to a 1-800-297-1516 day, making this the worst humanitarian study commissioned by the Inter- crisis in the Western hemisphere and American Development Bank, www.churchworldservice.org one of the most serious internal 3 approximately 30 percent of Colombians displacement situations in the world.” 4 can be considered Afro-Colombian. As Church World Service is a cooperative ministry For Afro-Colombians, this situation has with most of the Americas, the Spanish of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican resulted in a disproportionate number of colonists in Colombia used slave labor denominations, providing sustainable self-help displaced, the loss of traditional from Africa to work in gold mines, cattle and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in more than 80 countries. homelands, a fragmentation of families, ranches, and large plantations. Their public services and Additionally, efforts to organize and private investment claim legal rights to their traditional in Chocó and other lands have been seen as a threat and predominantly Afro- have likely further contributed to Colombian regions violence against Afro-Colombian along the country's communities as well as their massive coastline.9 By displacement.12 1996, some communities were being granted DISPLACEMENTDISPLACEMENT AND AND ITS ITS IMP IMPACTACT formal title to the lands their Today displacement is no longer ancestors had just a collateral effect of the armed traditionally conflict: it is one of the central occupied; however, strategies of those who are the process has sponsoring, leading, and profiting moved slowly. from the confrontation.14 "The Atrato will continue to be our land"— displaced Afro- Colombians call attention to their loss. Difficulty in Displacement takes its toll in many below the poverty line7);74 percent enforcing this and ways. Rural campesinos (farmers and receive wages below the legal other laws beneficial to minority peasants) constitute the majority of the minimum; and their municipalities have communities is due in part to the low internally displaced. Arriving in urban the highest rates of poverty. Chocó has representation of minorities in elected areas, they have great difficulty finding the lowest per capita level of social office. According to the U.S. State work and adequate shelter — most end investment and ranked last in terms of Department, as recently as 2002, “Afro- up living in urban slums where education, health, and infrastructure.8 Colombians had almost no conditions are overcrowded and representation in the executive branch, unsanitary. These communities usually In spite of these conditions, Colombia judicial branch, civil service positions, or lack most basic public services has a vibrant Afro-Colombian society. in military hierarchies.”10 including water, sewage, and electricity. Some people have managed to Streets are unpaved, and most houses preserve their African heritage both in Afro-Colombians also find themselves are only rudimentary constructions of language and culture. Afro-Colombians disproportionately affected by the cinderblocks, plastic sheets, mud, and have organized to promote their rights, violence of the country’s 40-year armed tin. claim title to their lands, and build peace conflict. As a minority, they are one of communities. Efforts of organized Afro- the most vulnerable sectors of the In July 2002, the UNHCR reported that Colombians led to the recognition of population. The area where they are 72 percent of all internally displaced certain cultural and land rights in most concentrated along the Pacific persons were women and children. 15 Colombia’s 1991 constitution. Despite coast has become a battleground Over 1 million children have been passage in 1993 of a special law between armed groups vying for displaced from their homes over the designed to benefit Afro-Colombians, economically valuable land and past decade, and only 15 percent of little concrete progress had been made strategic corridors to receive weapons displaced children attend school. 16 The on the law's commitments to expand deliveries and ship drugs abroad. 11 World Food Programme, in June 2003,

Colombia's displaced trying to stave off starvation and disease on the fringes of society

The last African slaves landed at Colombia's port of Cartagena 150 years ago. But long after abolition, their descendants are still not masters of their destiny. More than 50,000 refugees, almost all of them black, have left behind plots of land in the interior of Colombia and are now squatting on the outskirts of the former slave port.

They call their shantytown Nelson Mandela City, after the South African statesman. The collection of shacks made from scraps of wood, tin, and plastic is their only haven from Colombia's drawn-out war between leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary squads, and the army… The refugee children are malnourished, and the only relief comes from a United Nations-aided soup kitchen. The shantytown has no running water…

Jobs are scarce. Desperate refugees are reduced to such unhealthy activities as picking through trash heaps to recycle glass bottles and cardboard in exchange for about $2 a day.

International aid agencies have helped build schools and organize community projects in Nelson Mandela City, but the shanty dwellers said that history and race work against them. Blacks have historically been among Colombia's poorest populations and have received little government assistance.13

2 caught between these forces are unable CLIMATECLIMATE OF OF VIOLENCE VIOLENCE to receive shipments of medicines, salt, cooking oil, and fuel. This blockade has Massacres, threats, and contributed to an increase in malaria in disappearances have been the region, due to the lack of proper routinely used to encourage treatment.23 According to the UNHCR, Afro-Colombian communities some Colombian experts say rebels to leave their homes. and their paramilitary foes are also Paramilitaries, the guerrillas, holding many communities hostage, and the Colombian military confined to their territory without the have all been implicated for option to flee.24 undertaking such activities. One of the worst incidents of political violence against an ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL DEGRAD DEGRADATIONATION Afro-Colombian community in recent years occurred in a Environmental degradation and the loss May 2002 incident in the of crops have also forced communities town of Bojayá, in the from their homes. One such factor department of Chocó where contributing to the ongoing 120 civilians were killed in displacement of Colombians has been fighting between the use of herbicides to eradicate drug Displaced children helping their families build new homes. paramilitaries and guerrillas. crops. As part of its strategy to combat Following this attack, five drug production in the Andean region of reported that “four out of five of these thousand residents — 68 Latin America, the United States has displaced people face a ‘food percent of the local population — fled to promoted and funded routine aerial emergency.’ ”17 The Colombian Quibdó, the departmental capital.21 The fumigation of suspected crops. The government provides little assistance to Colombian Catholic Church, community method being used is to eradicate coca the displaced — most families are leaders, the Colombian government's crops using an herbicide whose main eligible for only three months of assist- human rights office, and the UN Human ingredient is the chemical glyphosate, ance, and many never receive funds. Rights Office all had sent urgent which is sold commercially by the warnings to Colombian government company Monsanto as “Roundup”. This displacement has had a dispropor- officials at least a week before the It works by eliminating any green tionate effect on indigenous and Afro- attack, indicating the convergence of vegetation it comes in contact with. Colombian communities. According to thousands of troops in Bojayá. The The mixture used in Colombia contains the Organization of American States, in Colombian government did not take any additional additives to increase several of the regions visited by its measures to protect the civilian penetration into the leaf, which have Commission on Human Rights, “the population, and only sent the military in raised serious health concerns about majority of the internally displaced after the massacre and displacement. its use. persons populations residing in shelters and camps in the area consisted of Since 1996, an armed economic Because the pesticides drift as they black persons.”18 A recent report issued blockade of the Atrato River, in Chocó come to earth, and sometimes due to by Action by Churches Together notes and Antioquia provinces, has prevented pilot error or negligence, aerial that Afro-Colombians have a 20 percent the local communities from receiving fumigations also have destroyed acres higher displacement rate than the essential goods. The guerrilla and of legal crops, and have contaminated country’s overall figure.19 paramilitary groups are blocking 60 bodies of water. Crops destroyed have ships per day in order to prevent their included alternative development For the most part, displaced Afro- enemies from receiving supplies.22 As a projects, some of which are funded by Colombians are ignored and avoided. result, more than 180,000 people the United States or the European The terrible living conditions and high unemployment rates in these commun- Witness for Peace delegation visits ities have had the additional unfortunate a displaced community struggling for assistance effect of also fueling racist stereotypes in Colombia regarding Afro-Colombians. Outside the city of Barranquilla, we visited a displaced community — A participant in a U.S. delegation to essentially a refugee camp — known as Kilometer 7. Two hundred eighty-four view the Afro-Colombian reality recalls families are trying to survive there under desperate conditions… The Mayor of seeing graffiti inside the city of Bogotá, Barranquilla promised the families of Kilometer 7 that more aid would be with a growing displaced population, forthcoming, but they have not received it. After months of waiting for the that read “Haga patria, mata a un Negro!” promised assistance, a delegation of four leaders from the displaced (“Be a patriot, kill a black person”).20 community went to the Mayor's office to demand the aid Kilometer 7 was due to receive. Those four community leaders ended up dead — assassinated. Anyone who demands his or her rights is considered subversive.25

3 Union. In many cases, fields Porvenir, and Timbá regions of sprayed are a significant distance Caucua province by paramilitaries, from the nearest coca crop.26 in order to pave the way for several People have had to continue to new projects. These included the use bodies of water that have massive hydroelectric dam of been sprayed, as they lack Arrieros de López de Micay, the other sources of water. Jolí River-López de Micay dam, the Environmentalists have raised Salvajina dam, the Naya region concerns about the potential hydroelectric project, a marine impact these applications may platform planned at the mouth of have on the diverse but fragile the Naya River, and agro-industrial ecosystem of the Amazon basin. African Palm plantations.32 Nationwide, the highest levels of Fumigation has occurred in displacement have occurred in regions populated by Afro- zones earmarked for such macro- 33 Colombians. According to the Near Villa Miseria (Town of Misery),south of Bogotá. development projects. U.S. Office on Colombia, in the department of Nariño, “U.S.- Control of natural resources has Colombian communities, in order to sponsored fumigation spraying allow easy transfer of arms. Drug also been key in funding the conflict in programs have ruined Afro-Colombians’ traffickers have sought to maintain Colombia. A recent study found that food crops, threatened their health and control over coastal areas in order to “oil monies obtained through official or environment, and forced many to leave have better channels from which to ship illegal channels have paid all sides in their homes.”27 the conflict, providing not only the state their illicit goods. and its armies but also armed Economic development activity has also These lands are in a region that is rich insurgents and in some cases contributed to environmental damage paramilitary groups with increased with gold, emeralds, and oil. The area 34 affecting Afro-Colombian communities. also includes pharmaceutically rich material capacity to wage war.” This In the Chocó Biopacífico, a strip of study further notes that struggles for rainforest areas, fertile farming lands, territory on Colombia’s Pacific and rivers with the potential to provide control over oil-rich territories have seaboard, the use of mercury in tremendous hydroelectric power. The contributed to the territorial dimension intensive gold mining has polluted Norwegian Refugee Council reported of this conflict — one that is taking a watercourses and destroyed the aquatic that indigenous Bari communities in the tremendous toll on the Afro-Colombian flora that provide food for the local Afro- communities. Additionally, the United Catatumbo, opposed to encroachment Colombian and Amerindian States is now providing funds to train 28 on their lands rich in oil and carbon, communities. Also in this area, were forcibly displaced by armed actors Colombian soldiers in Arauca province intensive logging has depleted the soil for national and multinational economic to protect an oil pipeline jointly owned and exposed it to erosion. In the interests.31 by the Colombian oil company Cacarica River Basin, after the forced ECOPETROL and U.S.-based displacement of Afro-Colombians, According to the President of the Occidental Petroleum from being commercial logging interests began bombed by guerrillas. 35 This policy has 29 Association of Displaced Afro- operations. Colombians (AFRODES), more than resulted in further displacement of 4,000 people were displaced in communities, and human rights abuses against those who speak out on their December 2000 from the Ceral, CONTROLCONTROL OF OF TERRITORY TERRITORY AND AND behalf. AACCESSCCESS T TOO NATURALNATURAL RESOURCES RESOURCES Reflections of an Afro-Colombian Church Leader and Activist An increased displacement of many Afro-Colombian and indigenous The overwhelming faces of poverty that so few of us have witnessed makes us communities can be clearly linked to all want to do something NOW for everyone we see. Ricardo Esquivia — a their having gained title to collective long time "drum major/activist" for the Afro-Colombian struggle — himself a territories and an intentional and desplazado (displaced person) from Cartagena gently advises us: "You can't planned process on the part of others solve their problems with handouts. What you can do is listen to our cries for to gain access to natural resources or help. Work with us to find ways in which we can collaborate together to find land.30 long-term solutions to this problem. Educate your folks and your political representatives on what you have seen, heard, and felt here in Colombia... Afro-Colombian communities inhabit Help us to learn from your successes in the U.S. civil rights struggle and how coastal lands with beach areas coveted we can use these lessons here in Colombia... Assist us to be more effective in by international hoteliers, and por t our own organizational/group efforts... Help us to erase the bonds of slavery access to both the Atlantic and Pacific and slave mentality that keep us apart today... Help to find ways of connecting Oceans. Both the guerrillas and the more consciously with each other as Afro-Colombians to improve our own paramilitaries have sought access to quality of life by getting rid of the continued effects of racism...”39 coastal and river lands held by Afro- 4 Providing humanitarian ORGANIZING assistance to Afro-Colombian ORGANIZINGTO RESPOND TO RESPOND communities: Working with the UN World Food Programme, We are still fearful of the CWS seeks to support the armed groups, they are around improvement of food production us and they can harm us. But for consumption and the we are more organized now, elementary conditions of and it makes us stronger. survival for 515 internally Priest in Bojayá, Chocó 36 displaced families from rural communities in the Province of Afro-Colombians continue to Bolívar. Of this population, 60 peacefully organize in the face of percent are children and 55 violence and discrimination. percent are women — 25 There are now over 400 Afro- percent are families with a Colombian organizations female head of household, many struggling to build consensus. of them widows as a result of This process has been furthered Fumigated palmitos (hearts of palm) and other legal crops. violence. Additionally, 115 of by several national gatherings of these families are of African Afro-Colombians, working together international attention to the devastating ancestry. to build a common platform and impact the protracted struggle and strengthen their collective political ongoing militarization in Colombia has PROMOTE CHANGE THROUGH CWS power. Organizations have formed had on the Afro-Colombian population. around a variety of objectives. Some, Colombia needs a lot of help, but such as AFRODES and the Black not arms and poisonous chemicals Community Process (PCN), seek to CHURCHCHURCH WORLD WORLD SERVICE SERVICE (CWS) which aggravate the conditions defend Afro-Colombians’ rights, while RESPONSE(CWS) RESPONSE under which we live today. You can others address the rights of women, or help greatly… by influencing the specific concerns of local communities. WHAT CWS IS DOING IN COLOMBIA policy of your government toward The people of Bojayá have formed the our country to be more constructive “2nd of May Committee for the CWS is supporting the organizational and pursuant of peace instead of Reconstruction of Bojayá,” which is development and leadership war and social injustice. building new homes. Afro-Colombians formation of Internally Displaced Luis Gilberto Murillo Urrutia have also established active Peace Persons (IDP) organizations through Former Governor of Chocó, Colombia40 Communities such as Cacarica, which the National Coordination of have refused the presence of any Displaced, which includes 52 ¥ Sign up online for Church World armed actors in their territory. Others organizations and has provided training Service’s “Speak Out” e-mail action have participated in the “Atratiando” to 104 leaders in five regions. alerts: voyage, organized by the Catholic (www.churchworldservice.org/Educ_ Church and indigenous and Afro- Supporting the rights of Afro- Advo/colombia.html) Colombian communities, in defiance of Colombians, especially women, the economic blockade of the Atrato through the Colombian Black ¥ Send a message to Congress River mentioned above.37 Women’s Council, a part of the Afro- and the Administration through the Colombian National Conference. In Church World Service Website. Ask Across the board, however, Afro- Afro-Colombian culture, women are the them to end the use of military Colombian leaders and communities center of the family; the family is the solutions and to support efforts to regularly face violence and intimidation center of the community and the vehicle renew peace talks. Call for for their efforts.38 Many face such for the maintenance and preservation of increased humanitarian and danger that they must seek asylum in their values. Nevertheless, the Afro- development aid to Colombia and other countries. Colombian woman, whether displaced the extension of Temporary or not, faces very severe conditions. Protected Status for those who have There has also been an increasing The formation of the Colombian Black sought refuge in the U.S. (see link above). effort to establish ties with communities Women’s Council will strengthen the of African descent in other countries, regional unity processes and will help to ¥ Call your CWS Regional Office including the United States. Afro- improve the participation of black toll-free at 888-CWS-CROP Colombians hope that they can learn women in the formulation of (888-297-2767) to learn about from the organizing experiences and development policies and plans that supporting the work of Church civil rights struggles of others. affect their communities, as well as World Service through CROP Strengthened ties with the African themselves with regard to gender and WALKS, the TOOLS OF HOPE & American community in the United race. BLANKET Program, and the "Gift States will hopefully also draw greater of the Heart" Kits Program. 5 WHAT CWS IS DOING IN THE U.S.: 4 Third Report On The Human Rights Situation In cBraqwGnaBdaBrnapndpcnaoDagdcdMxoweTzxDqdDh Colombia, Chapter XI - "The Rights of Black coqBaSdDn/opendoc.htm, downloaded on 1/13/2004. CWS has participated in a Witness for Communities," InterAmerican Commission on Human 24 U.N.Refugee Official Visits Colombian Communities Peace delegation to Colombia to assess Rights, Organization of American States, 26 Februar y That Suffer Blockades, op.cit. the situation of Afro-Colombians. 1999, 25 At Such a Time as This, A sermon delivered by the http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/colom99en/chapter- Rev. Roger Scott Powers at Montclair Presbyterian Additionally, CWS has supported 11.htm. Church in Oakland, Calif., on April 6, 2003. speaking tours of Afro-Colombians to 5 The Plight of Afro-Colombians, TransAfrica Forum http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/actnow/colombiaser various states across the U.S. to raise Issue Brief, Selena Mendy Singleton, May 2001, p. 1 mon.htm 6 2002 Human Rights Report: Colombia, U.S. 26 Aerial Coca Eradication in Southern BolÌvar violates greater public attention to their situation. Department of State, March 31, 2003, Pg 80 at U.S. and Colombian Rules for Eradication, Janna In Washington, DC, CWS is an active www.state.gov/documents/organization/19598.doc Bowman and Bonnie Klassen, Mennonite Central member of both the Colombia Steering 7 Human Development Report 2003: Millennium Committee and Justapaz, July 18, 2003, pg.2. Development Goals:A Compact Among Nations To End 27 UNDERSTANDING COLOMBIA SERIES: Afro- Committee and Afro-Colombian Human Poverty, UN Development Programme, 2003, Colombians under Fire, U.S. Office on Colombia, May Working Group. In collaboration with pg.245, 2003. the U.S. Office on Colombia, CWS also http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/pdf/hdr03_HDI.pdf. 28 Implementation of the Programme of Action for the 8 2002 Human Rights Report: Colombia, U.S. Third Decade To Combat Racism and Racial has worked to organize a high level Department of State, op.cit. Discrimination, Commission on Human Rights, January delegation composed of Congressional 9 ibid. 13, 1997, page 7 at 10 ibid. http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord1997/documentation/com Black Caucus members and African 11 UNDERSTANDING COLOMBIA SERIES: Afro- mission/e-cn4-1997-71-add1.htm, downloaded American church leaders, traveling to Colombians under Fire, U.S. Office on Colombia, May 6/2/2003. view the Afro-Colombian reality in 2003 29 Amnesty International, "COLOMBIA: Return to 12 see: Displacement, Development and Modernity in Hope, Forcibly displaced communities of Urabá and Colombia, under the leadership of the the Colombian Pacific, Arturo Escobar, International Medio Atrato Region", May 18, 2000, p. 34 at Executive Director of CWS. Social Science Journal Volume 55, Issue 1, March http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/colombia/docume 2003, pp 157-167. nt.do?id=2C3AD0DA9CDD6EDF802568EF00668300 13 Colombia's Displaced Caught in Cross Fire of War downloaded on February 4, 2004. and Racism, By Karl Penhaul, Special to CNN, 30 Displacement, Development and Modernity in the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/facing.hate/stories Colombian Pacific, Arturo Escobar, International Social AND ACTIONS /colombia.slaves/ 1/18/03. Science Journal Volume 55, Issue 1, March 2003, pp. 14 La otra guerra:Destierro y repoblamiento, Codhes 159-160. Informa: BoletÌn de la ConsultorÌa para los Derechos 31 Colombia IDP Crisis Worsens, Norwegian Refugee ¥ Visit the Church World Service Humanos y el Desplazamiento Número 44, Bogotá, Council, 15 May 2003, Website for a list of Ecumenical Colombia, 28 de abril de 2003, http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/s/FB6A21E4927909 and Interfaith Education, http://www.codhes.org.co/boletin_public/boletin_ult.htm 2CC1256D2700309A31 downloaded January 6, 2004. 15 2002 Human Rights Report: Colombia, op. cit., pg. 32 The Untold Truth About the Genocide Against Afro- Advocacy and Worship 61. Colombians, Marino Cordoba Berrio, President of the Resources on Colombia 16 2002 Human Rights Report: Colombia, op. cit., pg. Association of Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES), 76. May 8.2002, pg.3. (www.churchworldservice.org/colo 17 U.N.agency says displaced Colombians facing 'food 33 Arturo Escobar, op. cit., pg.160. mbia_denom_work.htm) emergency', World Food Programme, June 20, 2003, at 34 Oil and the Political Economy of Conflict in Colombia http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi- and Beyond:A Linkages Approach, Thad Dunning and bin/texis/vtx/home/+mwwBmekEI8Kwwwwgwwwwwww Leslie Wirpsa, 2002, ¥ Chicagoans for a Peaceful hFqnN0bItFqnDni5AFqnN0bIcFqogdcdMxowMzmwww http://www.santafe.edu/files/gems/obstaclestopeace/wir Colombia - Afro-Colombian wwwwwDzmxwwwwwwwdFqidGmnGaxOa- psadunning.pdf, Pg 11, downloaded 12/18/03, 9:31a.m. Resources uPPyER0ay0Ig/opendoc.htm, downloaded on 7/1/2003. 35 U.S. Office on Colombia, op. cit. 18 Third Report On The Human Rights Situation In 36 "Intervencion en la Iglesia Unidad de Cristo www.chicagoans.net/afroresources Colombia, Chapter XI - "The Rights of Black Homilia", April 1, 2001, Christ Congregational Church's Communities," InterAmerican Commission on Human website at http://www.christ- ¥ Support Responsible Rights, Organization of American States, 26 Februar y ucc.org/schedule/Guest325.htm, downloaded on 1999, 6/2/2003. Economic Practices: Visit the http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/colom99en/chapter- 37 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, website of the Interfaith Center on 11.htm. "UNHCR banks on blockade on Colombian River", Corporate Responsibility’s 19 Forcibly displaced persons in Colombia: Pilgrims in op.cit. their own land, pp. 7-8, Arturo Guerrero and Tommy 38 UNDERSTANDING COLOMBIA SERIES: Afro- Working Group on Promoting Ramm, ACT (Action by Churches Together), September Colombians under Fire, U.S. Office on Colombia, May Human Rights to learn about 2003. 2003 20 A Call From Family, by Zachary Norris, SF 39 Report to Board of Directors On the Witness for holding corporations accountable BayVIew.com, Jan.28, 2004, Peace Delegation, Dr. Ricardo Millett, President, Woods for meeting human rights http://www.sfbayview.com/102203/acall102203.shtml, Fund of Chicago, Chicago, IL August 27, 2003, pg.11 standards downloaded on 1/10/04. 40 "Intervencion en la Iglesia Unidad de Cristo 21 Forcibly displaced persons in Colombia: Pilgrims in Homilia", op.cit. (www.iccr.org/issues/promoting/go their own land, pp. 7-8, Arturo Guerrero and Tommy alsobjectives.php) Ramm, ACT (Action by Churches Together), September This and companion resources 2003. 22 UNHCR banks on breaking blockade on Colombian are available on the CWS Website ENDNOTES River, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at www.churchworldservice.org November 26, 2003 at http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi- 1 2002 Human Rights Report: Colombia, U.S. bin/texis/vtx/home/+6wwBmec2DkCwwwwnwwwwwww /Educ_Advo/colombia.html. To Department of State, March 31, 2003, p. 2 at mFqnN0bIhFqnN0bItFqnDni5AFqnN0bIcFqogdcdMxow order printed copies of this www.state.gov/documents/organization/19598.doc MzmAwwwwwwwDzmmwwwwwwwGFqKgdcdMxoweu 2 U.N.Refugee Official Visits Colombian Communities GYrcdBoccwaBdamGwiawBBnDBodDaBdar1MwDoBw resource, call 1-800-297-1516 and That Suffer Blockades, UNHCR News, February 3, GowDaqGo5o5aeD7nw/opendoc.htm, downloaded on ask for resource ED 0489. 2004, downloaded 2/3/04, online at: 1/13/2004. http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi- 23 Colombia: Flotilla To Draw Attention To bin/texis/vtx/home/+YwwBmepKGhewxwwwwzwwwww Humanitarian Crisis, Rupert Colville, United Nations wwmFqnN0bIhFqnN0bItFqnDni5AFqnN0bIcFq5gdcdMx High Commissioner for Refugees, November 14, 2003 Prepared by the Church World Service owamo5pcwqnmDzmhwwwwwwwGFqa- at http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi- Education and Advocacy Program for nwB1GneuGBro5pcwqnmagdcdMxowD5aGnqcwoMaBr bin/texis/vtx/home/+_wwBmeWFcRCwwwwxwwwwwww International Justice and Human Rights noGaomnDBoBO/opendoc.htm mFqnN0bIhFqnN0bItFqnDni5AFqnN0bIcFqogdcdMxow 3 ibid. MzmAwwwwwwwDzmhwwwwwwwGFqKFGoDtoDtarnw February 2004 Printed with soy ink on recycled paper 6 ED 0489