Internal Displacement and Peacebuilding in Colombia
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 9:30 am — 11:00 am
The Brookings Institution, Saul/Zilkha Rooms, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
The Colombian government has implemented political reconciliation and stabilization measures in recent years, yet internal displacement continues to be a major problem with estimates of the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) ranging from 2.6 to 4.3 million people. The relationship between internal displacement and peacebuilding is an important but complex one. Until IDPs find solutions to their displacement, it will be difficult to establish sustainable peace and security. At the same time, the lack of security makes the search for durable solutions for IDPs problematic. Issues around transitional justice and land are central to both peacebuilding and to resolving internal displacement.
On February 25, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement will host the launch of a new report on internal displacement and peacebuilding in Colombia, written by Roberto Vidal of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota. After his presentation, panelists will comment on the report and displacement in Colombia from a variety of perspectives. After the discussion, panelists will take audience questions.
Introduction
Amb. Thomas Greminger
Head of Political Division IV, Human Security
Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Moderator
Elizabeth Ferris
Senior Fellow and Co-Director
Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
Panelists
Veronica Gomez
Senior Human Rights Specialist
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Organization of American States
Gimena Sanchez
Senior Associate for Colombia and Haiti
Washington Office on Latin America
Roberto Vidal
Professor of Law
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogota)
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