Third Annual Conference on Colombia
VOICES OF THE DISAPPEARED
Saturday, February 28, 2004, 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
With the cooperation of the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Cultural Center
of the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) and
Amnesty International Group 50 Evanston/Rogers Park
Featuring two keynote speakers from ASFADDES, the Association
of the Family Members of the Detained and Disappeared, in Colombia. One speaker is from the ASFADDES branch in Cauca, the other from the Medellín branch. For more information on ASFADDES, please visit http://www.asfaddes.org.co/
Saturday, February 28, 2004
9:15 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
803 S. Morgan Street
Lecture Center B1
Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Cultural Center
University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC)
** parking available **
Registration starts at 9:15
Suggested donation $10 - Students free
No one will be turned away
ASFADDES is a nongovernmental organization made up of relatives of people who have ''disappeared'' during the ongoing conflict in Colombia. It aims to discover what has happened to the disappeared and bring those responsible to justice. ASFADDES members, other human rights defenders, and witnesses of human rights violations have endured death threats, killings and disappearances at the hands of the security forces and their paramilitary allies. In October 2000, for example, Angel Quintero and Claudia Monsalve of the Medellin branch of ASFADDES disappeared. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Using their own regional reality (Medellín and Cauca) as case
studies, the speakers will present reports based on the ASFADDES database, clarifying the current situation and historic trends in Colombia regarding
a) victims
b) the nature and frequency of crimes of detention and forced disappearance
c) the struggles of human rights defenders
d) the meaning and extent of impunity
They will offer "coyuntura" analysis of topics that are being
hotly debated, including the negotiations between Uribe's goverment and the paramilitaries and the impact of Uribe's "Democratic Security" policies.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:15 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 10:15 Morning Introduction
10:15 - 11:45 Keynote Speaker 1: RELATIVES OF THE DISAPPEARED RESPOND TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
11:45 - 12:00 Q&A
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break (UIC Cafeteria will be open)
1:00 - 1:15 Afternoon Introduction
1:15 - 2:45 Keynote Speaker 2: PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION: PEACE AND JUSTICE OR IMPUNITY FOR COLOMBIA?
2:45 - 3:00 Q&A
3:00 - 3:15 Break
3:15 - 4:45 Panel & Strategy Session Moderated by ANDREW FANDINO, PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL
4:45 - 5:00 Conclusion
PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY SESSION
To generate a local working group that will monitor the issue of forced detention/disappearance in Colombia, work to create awareness of the issue among the general public, the media and policy makers, and support the work of ASFADDES.
The ASFADDES speakers' visit to Chicago is part of a North America tour sponsored by
Amnesty International USA,
Peace Brigades International,
School of the Americas Watch, and
Colombia Human Rights Committee in D.C.
We are very grateful to these organizations for making this conference possible.
