Working towards peace in Colombia

SCIAF's Director of Integral Human Development, Mark Camburn wrote this reflection on the first of our "Faith in Peacebuilding" events: "Lessons from the Frontline: Colombia and Ecuador," hosted together with Tearfund, the Scottish Peace Platform, and the St Andrews Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education at Glasgow University.

It was an inspiring event, where we were joined by frontline faith leaders and peacebuilders from Colombia and Ecuador.

From SCIAF’s side, we heard from Lidis Mosquera, the Director of our local partner SEPAS-Istmina Tadó (the Social Ministry of the Diocese of Istmina-Tadó), and from long-time friend of SCIAF, Monsignor Juan Carlos Barreto, the Bishop President of Caritas Colombiana. From Ecuador, we heard from Sandra Alarcón and Laura Saá, 2 local Pastors based in Guayaquil, who work on peacebuilding with Tearfund.

We listened as they spoke of how armed conflict, criminal gangs, and drug-trafficking are tearing communities apart - where young people are the ones most at risk. Our speakers talked of the role of faith, and faith actors, who support affected communities and work towards peace, and how they are often seen as beacons of hope.

Lidis said:

“The Church doesn’t have to come [in times of need] the Church is already there, the Church is always there, remaining steadfast with the communities. The Church represents protection, hope – a light, especially in the darkest moments”.

We heard also about the hope that they see all around them, despite the incredibly challenging, and often worsening, context they find themselves in, and shared with us their visions of peace for them, their communities, and their countries.

Pastor Sandra’s vision was particularly moving:

“Peace is when our children and young people can walk to school freely and safely, when they can go to sleep at night safe and sound”.

But perhaps the lasting message from this event, heard loud and clear from all our speakers, was that peace must go hand in hand with social justice – unless we tackle the unfair distribution of wealth and resources, and ensure everyone has access to basic rights such as clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and education, the drivers of conflict will remain. Put simply, by Mgr Juan Carlos Barreto:

 “Without justice, there will never be peace.”