In Colombia, an insurgency-counterinsurgency war has left over 200,000 people dead since 1964 and displaced over three million others from their homes. CPT's Colombia delegations will meet with church, human rights and social justice organizers in Bogotá and in Barrancabermeja, the industrial city in the Magdalena Medio region where CPT's full-time team has been based since 2001. In addition, delegates will spend several days in the countryside where communities have been subject to attack and threats by various armed groups. The January delegation will visit the Mining Zone in Southern Bolivar.

The San Lucas Mountains house the most valuable and largely unexploited gold reserve in the Americas. More than 30,000 people depend on small-scale mining for a living. Long recognized as a centre for guerrilla activity, the mountains have seen paramilitary incursions in the last decade. Today, the Colombian Armed Forces are increasingly committing human rights violations, as they "secure" the zone for multinational investment, including that by Canada's B2Gold Corporation, which in this area works in conjunction with the multinational Anglo Gold Ashanti. In order to protect their livelihoods and communities small miners have organized, although their leadership has been under attack by illegal armed actors and the State. Delegates will meet with rural communities and their leaders in southern Bolivar’s mining zone.

Click here to apply.

CPT is an ecumenical violence-reduction initiative with support and membership from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations. CPT has had a continuing presence in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia since May 2001.

FUNDRAISING EXPECTATION: $2000 US or $2200 Cdn (covers roundtrip airfare).