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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE FIRST AFRO-COLOMBIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, AUGUST 23-28TH - 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LAW 70May 21, 2013 |
transafrica.org/latin-america-colombia
Charo Mina Rojas, Woodhull Alliance: "Charo Mina Rojas is a human rights
activist, the National Coordinator of Advocacy and Outreach for the Black
Communities’ Process (Proceso de Comunidades Negras- PCN), and member of the
Afro-Colombia Solidarity Network, based in the United States. In 1995, she
worked in the Ministry of Education as inter-institutional advisor for the
implementation of a regional project to improve education standards, and
introduced ethno-education in schools where the Afro-Colombian population was
dominant. Mrs. Mina Rojas also worked for many years educating and assisting
grassroots Afro-descendant communities on the process of implementing the Law 70
of 1993, that recognizes cultural, territorial and political rights, and define
mechanisms for economic and cultural development of these communities in
Colombia."
Attacks on Black Social Movements in Northern Cauca Continue 5/21/2019 ACSN: "Cesar
Cerón was attacked after leaving a meeting on May 16. He is the Legal
Representative of the Afro-Colombian Community Council of Meseta and currently
running for mayor of the municipality of Suárez, Cauca. Over the course of the
last ten years, Cerón has vehemently defended the rights of black, indigenous,
and campesino communities confronting violence and displacement at the hands of
paramilitaries and multinational corporations. Over the course of the last two
years, he has faced extreme risks and been forced to leave the territory due to
threats against his life."
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network Statement of Concern: Recent Increase in
Violence Against Afro-Colombian Communities on the Pacific Coast 2/25/2013 TransAfrica: "In
anticipation of the upcoming visit of Minister Fernando Carrillo to Washington,
DC, the Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network (ACSN) would like to express serious
concerns with the current situation facing specific Afro-Colombian communities
and leaders. We are especially concerned with recent increase in violence
against Afro-Colombian communities on the Pacific coast."
ACSN Concerned about the criminal allegations against AfroColombian human rights
defender Felix Banguero 6/18/2012 WOLA: "The Afro-Colombian Solidarity
Network is very concerned about the detention of Felix Manuel Banguero, a
long-time community leader and human rights defender; member of the Community
Council El Pílamo; in the municipality of Guachené, Northern Cauca region; and a
founder member of the Black Communities’ Process (PCN). Given the troubling
climate of judicial persecution and stigmatization against human rights
activists in Colombia, ACSN urges the Colombian authorities to ensure full
protection of Mr. Banguero’s human rights."
Victims Law Decree Fails Afro-Colombian Communities 2/3/2012 NACLA: "President
Juan Manuel Santos may have spoiled an historic opportunity to bring some
justice in the form of reparations and land restitution to the Afro-descendant
victims of Colombia’s internal armed conflict. On December 9, Santos decreed Law
4635, ostensibly creating the means for the Colombian government to compensate
and assist Afro-Colombian victims that have been kicked off their land or have
suffered during Colombia’s internal conflict. Such a law is essential, as
Afro-Colombians have been disproportionably victimized and dispossessed by the
violence. Their communities have repeatedly endured forced internal
displacement, dozens of massacres, targeted assassination of their leaders, rape
of their women and children, and the stigmatization that comes with all these
atrocities. However, the Colombian government failed to implement a legitimate
process of participation and free, prior, and informed consultation with these
groups over the law—a right granted to Afro-descendents both in the Colombian
Constitution and in international treaties. Without such consultation with the
victims, Law 4635 is just another piece of legislation that has made a mockery
of the rights of Afro-descendants."
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network Calls for Inclusion of Afro-Colombian Issues
in Victims' Law 11/22/2011 TransAfrica
ACSN Urges the Santos Administration to investigate paramilitary activity and
protect the Afro-Colombian communities in Cacarica Chocó 11/20/2011 CRLN: "The
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network (ACSN)* is concerned for the safety of
Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities in the Cacarica river basin. The
Community for Self-Determination, Life and Dignity of Cacarica (CAVIDA) warns
that paramilitaries are mobilizing in nearby towns including Carmen del Darién,
Turbo, Apartadó and Chigorodó in order to secure territorial, economic and
social control over the civilian population. The presence of illegal armed
groups, including the guerrillas and paramilitary groups that did not disarm or
give up territorial control of the strategic Darien/Lower Atrato area put the
lives of communities at risk. Information provided to CAVIDA indicates that the
villages of Vijao and El Limón, and the Humanitarian Zone of Nueva Vida may be
targeted."
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network Calls for Protection of Afro-Colombian
Communities in Cacarica, Choco 9/23/2011 TransAfrica: "The Afro-Colombian
Solidarity Network (ACSN)* is concerned for the safety of Afro-Colombian and
indigenous communities in the Cacarica river basin. The Community for
Self-Determination, Life and Dignity of Cacarica (CAVIDA) warns that
paramilitaries are mobilizing in nearby towns including Carmen del Darién,
Turbo, Apartadó and Chigorodó in order to secure territorial, economic and
social control over the civilian population."
The Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network (ACSN) strongly denounces the following
security incidents that have taken place in Afro-Colombian communities since
July 8/10/2011 TransAfrica
New Abuses of
Afro-Colombians’ Legal Rights under Santos Administration 7/20/2011 ACSN: "Violence
and intimidation tactics continue to undermine the legal framework that defends
the rights of Afro-Colombians. Despite possessing collective land rights to more
than 5.2 million hectares of land, Afro- Colombians are disproportionately
affected by forced displacement. Democratically elected Afro- Colombian
Community Councils were created with the purpose of governing the collective
territories and playing an important role in defending the right to previous,
free, and informed consultation and consent. However, paramilitary groups that
collude with large-scale economic projects violently expel Afro- Colombian
communities from their collective lands. ACSN has repeatedly denounced various
expressions of violence against Afro-Colombian communities and leaders."
New Abuses of Afro-Colombians’ Legal Rights under Santos Administration 7/20/2011 WOLA: "Violence
and intimidation tactics continue to undermine the legal framework that defends
the rights of Afro-Colombians. Despite possessing collective land rights to more
than 5.2 million hectares of land, Afro-Colombians are disproportionately
affected by forced displacement. Democratically elected Afro-Colombian Community
Councils were created with the purpose of governing the collective territories
and playing an important role in defending the right to previous, free, and
informed consultation and consent. However, paramilitary groups that collude
with large-scale economic projects violently expel Afro-Colombian communities
from their collective lands. ACSN has repeatedly denounced various expressions
of violence against Afro-Colombian communities and leaders. Despite domestic and
international awareness of the systematic destruction of Afro-Colombian
communities’ rights, the threats and violence continue."
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network Condemns Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in
Colombia 5/26/2011 WOLA: "This level of ongoing violence and abuse in
Colombia is unacceptable especially at a time when the Obama Administration has
announced that it plans to move forward with the FTA ."
Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network Statement 11/3/2010 Pan-African News
Wire: "Paramilitaries Threaten Afro-Colombians that Recently Advocated for Human
Rights at the OAS and U.S. Congress."
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Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network (ACSN)