2012-07-11T01:40:27Z

MemoriasIEH:

2012-07-11T01:19:09Z

MemoriasIEH:

2012-07-11T00:23:30Z

MemoriasIEH:

2012-07-10T21:28:41Z

MemoriasIEH:

[[Image:Portada 1.jpg|250x350px]]   

= 1st Challenges of the conflict in Colombia =

These Memoirs were developed by the Humanitarian Studies Institute

allies. Compiled and edited by David Alejandro Schoeller-Díaz. Maps

and data provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination

of Humanitarian Affairs UNOCHA – Colombia.

The HSI was established in 2008, with the objective of creating links

between Universities, NGOs and UN System Agencies, given the

demonstrated potential for research and training that exists among

local actors in order to improve quality of Humanitarian Action.

These Memoirs can be downloaded from the HSI Website at:

www.colombiassh.org/reh/memoirs3anniv

'''The Humanitarian Studies Institute (HSI) 2012.'''

Cover page photo: La Calle sonríe by Fabián Garzón Bustos

Interior photo: Atrás del matorral by Mario Barrero

1st Humanitarian Photography Contest.

Photo stream available in: http://bit.ly/McGA1W

 

Suggested citation:

Humanitarian Studies Institute (HSI) (2012). 1st Regional Conference.

Challenges of the Conflict in Colombia. 3 and 4 November 2011.

Bogotá: HSI.

 

Feedbacks and comments are welcome, and should be sent to:

iehinternacional@gmail.com

 

The Humanitarian Studies Institute would like to express its

gratitude for the financial support of the '''Canada Fund for Local'''

'''Initiatives (CFLI) '''

 

'''2. '''On the part of the Office for the Coordination of

Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), I would like to congratulate the Humanitarian Studies Institute upon the celebration of its 3rd Anniversary. HSI has been an important initiative working towards the integration of humanitarian actors with academics across Colombia in the areas of training, advocacy and research. These Memoirs compile the results of a meeting of experts from regions throughout Colombia, including NGO workers, public officials from the Ombudsman’s Office, Agency personnel and researchers, who came together to share their experiences in the field. These types of meetings are invaluable for the humanitarian community in Colombia, where the humanitarian situation frequently tends to be out of public view, and opportunities to share experiences widely are few. We sincerely hope that these types of efforts will continue on the part of HSI and the participants in the event in order to help save lives and reduce the suffering of millions of Colombians who face the difficulties of the country’s internal armed conflict and the effects of frequent natural disasters. With best wishes for continuing success, María José Torres Head of Office Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Colombia, Technical Secretariat of the Humanitarian Studies Institute 

*So… what’s next?

Many efforts are underway to address, confront and transform the conflict in Colombia. From the highly publicized institutional ones to those that occur almost invisibly in neighborhoods, villages and communities aimed at improving coexistence between neighbors. Others, from diverse civil society sectors, seek to position their concerns and perspectives in the public arena in order to mobilize community groups and affect policy. Unfortunately, many efforts of this type are unknown or invisible simply because they don’t occur in the epicenter of national decision-making, don’t fit in the agendas of those who may finance them, or aren’t documented and shared with the community, in our case, the humanitarian one. In this context, these Memoirs, consolidated by HSI with much effort, are one more contribution to advance the aspirations of the Colombian people for a transformation of the armed conflict. But how do these Memoirs contribute? And from here, what might happen? I just want to note three issues that motivated this gathering of speakers, stories and analysis. The discussion on these issues may spur a reflection on our institutional practices, and thus shine light on our future work. In the first place, these Memoirs stand as evidence. This term is in such vogue in our context that its meaning is often eroded. With this text, regional representatives, national and international analysts, participants, researchers, compilers, and all the collaborators of this event and its results have become witnesses of what happened and also of what was affirmed and understood. It’s worth remembering that these Memoirs emerged in a historical moment after eight years during which the existence an armed conflict was denied. Though we can’t say this is the only written material on these subjects in the aftermath of such era of denial, we can affirm that it stands out as the product of wide participation of civil society and communitybased organizations. For HSI, the result is not only a reliable resource, but also one worthy of systematization and distribution. Being witnesses of this event better equips us to be more attentive observers of what happens in the country, especially, as said before,

those things that receive limited attention in the epicenter and don’t appear as often in the newspapers or newscasts, yet are daily bread in the country’s periphery. An exercise like this sets a precedent for more participatory and inclusive discussions. In second place, the experience of the “Challenges of the Conflict in Colombia” Conference reveals a shift driven by many sectors of Colombian society. I’m speaking about the sense of unity reflected in this two-day exercise, as well as many more compiling the analysis. It’s important to note that this concept of unity does not equate to homogeneity, but instead to a diversity of perspectives and alternatives to approach the conflict in Colombia. Being a member of an organization focused on children and with strong community ties, I’ve recognized that participation is nonnegotiable and decisive to change the culture, structures and practices of a society in crisis. For HSI and its partners, it’s very important to recognize the institutions, experts and interns of the humanitarian field. Nevertheless, such recognition is more valuable if their work is strongly linked to the base of the community, which on a day-to-day basis experiences the limitations and vulnerabilities, risks more than others, suffers and cries. Transposing this diversity of perspectives into the Memoirs (for the most observant of the text) is a paramount commitment, because a black-and-white portrayal of the world is intolerable for those who learn to be inclusive and recognize the value of diverse perspectives. Finally, these Memoirs are meant to propel humanitarian work by enriching our agenda. In many social research projects, systematization exercises have fallen in the trap of further advancing the positioning of institutional postures and/or publishing achievements, rather than generating deep reflections, taking advantage of lessons, and throwing them in a race to be learned and incorporated into the practices of private and public life. The analysis of actors, factors and vulnerabilities-capabilities, as well as the accumulation of conclusions throughout the text, is perhaps the most illustrative part. It’s useless to write only to make history, only to leave a track, or show that one tried one’s best. We write because a commitment is made for change and transformation. When Colombians write their Memoirs, such as this one, we are reading of ourselves in the present, but inevitably, as we turn the pages, images emerge of how the future could turn, whether we act or not. These Memoirs assert loudly that the conflict in Colombia is and will remain what Colombians and their individual and collective efforts want it to be. If we want something else, let us learn from the past and present. For HSI, it’s clear that research activities are a guide for progress and development, as long as their findings are incorporated into everyday life in institutional practices, and the work of social structures. Isn’t this a goal to pursue? Isn’t it an agenda for our work and projection? So... this is what follows, and on behalf of the Humanitarian Studies Institute, we hope to have the intent, resources and commitment of its members to: continue to create experiences like this, contribute to a better understanding of humanitarian practice in our context, and tirelessly explore possible ways to continue to improve, change, transform what we have, into something better for the country. Eng. Giovanny Cruz G National Coordinator of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs World Vision Colombia President of the HSI Board of Directors The Humanitarian Studies Institute (HSI) represents a joint effort of United Nations agencies, NGOs and universities to close the gap between the humanitarian community and academia. To accomplish this goal, HSI works via three pillars: advocacy, capacity building and research. As part of its advocacy strategy, HSI promotes thematic events to examine humanitarian crises, advance joint analysis of the humanitarian impact of conflict-related issues and natural disasters, and disseminate the framework for humanitarian action. HSI expresses its sincere gratitude to the constructive contributions of persons from academic institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs and international organizations that joined us from across Colombia. This includes organizations as varied as Universidad del Sinú, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana de Montería, Oxfam, Corporación Nuevo Arcoíris, Comisión de Vida, Justicia y Paz de la Arquidiócesis de Cali, Cocomasia, Diócesis de Soacha, SAT functionaries of Defensoría del Pueblo, Fedes, Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del César, and Fundación Montes de María, among many others.