Refugees International (RI) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
cordially invite you to a conference
Recent Dimensions of Colombia’s Humanitarian Crisis
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30am – 5:00pm
Stewart Mott House
122 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C.
The purpose of this event is to galvanize governmental, non-governmental, international and academic support for the current protection and assistant concerns of Colombian’s forced to flee their areas of origin. In 2007, the U.S. House of Representative passed a resolution on the critical situation of Colombia’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Last week, the Tom Lantos Commission for Human Rights held a hearing on the situation of Colombian refugees in Ecuador. These important steps taken by Members of U.S. Congress underscore the need for raising visibility to this current invisible humanitarian and human rights problem.
Conference panelists will include experts on IDP and refugee issues from NGO, Government, Non-Government and international sectors. They will present the latest information concerning the protection and assistance needs of IDPs and refugees and the reach of national and international efforts to tackle the displaced’s concerns within Colombia and in border countries. It is our hope that this event will spark debates that will culminate into necessary actions to address the gaps that exist. A special emphasis will be placed on the specific concerns of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Communities.
In the meantime, we ask that you save the date and also inform Rachel Robb of WOLA of your participation by calling us at (202) 797-2171 or by e-mail at rrobb@wola.org.
A Solution Oriented U.S. Policy To
Address the Colombian Forced Displacement Crisis
April 30, 2009
09:30 - 09:50 Registration and Light Breakfast
09:50 – 10:00 Andrea Lari, RI - Introduction Remarks and
Presentation of the Agenda
10:00 - 11:15 Current Causes of Displacement and the Specific Concerns
of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Communities
Moderator: Jessica Eby, CWS
10:00 - 10:20 Marco Romero, CODHES on Internal Displacement in Colombia
and Colombian refugees in surrounding countries
10:20 - 10:35 Marino Cordoba, AFRODES USA on Special Situation of Afro-
Colombian IDPs
10:35 - 10:50 Gimena Sanchez, WOLA, Special Concerns of Indigenous IDPs
10:50 - 11.15 Discussion
11:20 - 12:50 Most Recent Efforts to Address Forced Internal Displacement
Moderator: Mary DeLorey, Catholic Relief Services
11:20 - 11:35 Armando Escobar Sánchez, Acción Social – Colombian Government
11:35 - 11:50 Kelly Nicholls, USOC, Response of Colombia’s
Constitutional Court and Public Ministry Institutions
11:50 - 12:05 Lynn Vega, USAID IDP Program in Colombia
12:05 - 12:25 Patrick Egloff, Office of the United Nations Special Representative on the Human Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons
12:25 – 12:50 Discussion
12:50 - 01:30 Lunch Break
01:30 - 02:45 Most Recent Efforts to Address the Refugee Crisis
Moderator: Virginia Bouvier, USIP
01:30 – 01:45 Jana Mason, UNHCR - Response within Colombia, in
Ecuador and Panama
01:45 – 02:00 Juan Carlos Castrillon, Deputy Chief of Mission, Ecuadorian Government
02:00 – 02:15 Shaina Aber, JRS USA – Situation in Ecuador and Panama
02:15 - 02:30 Adam Isacson, CIP – Ecuador’s Humanitarian Emergency
02:30 – 02:55 Discussion
03:00 - 04:50 Next Steps for Action
Moderator: Lisa Haugaard, LAWG
03:00 – 03:15 Cindy Buhl, U.S. Congressional Response to IDPs and Refugees
03:15 – 03:30 Carlos Quesada, Global Rights - Incorporating Special Concerns of Afrodescendants in Refugee Response by Latin American States
03:30 – 03:50 Ben Beachy, Witness for Peace - Grassroots Efforts to Help
IDPs and Theo Sitther. Ecumenical Response to IDPs needs
03:50 – 04:10 Gimena Sanchez, WOLA, and Andrea Lari, RI
Steps that Can Be Taken vis a vis US Foreign Policy/Programs
04:10 – 04:50 Discussion and Conclusion