[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 822 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 822

Promoting local peace building efforts in Colombia and recognizing the 
courageous efforts of Colombian civil society and churches to establish 
    peace communities, advance non-violent conflict resolution, and 
                      advocate for human dignity.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2006

  Ms. McCollum of Minnesota (for herself, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Sabo, Mr. 
McGovern, Mr. Payne, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Ms. Lee, Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
   Texas, Ms. McKinney, and Mr. Abercrombie) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Promoting local peace building efforts in Colombia and recognizing the 
courageous efforts of Colombian civil society and churches to establish 
    peace communities, advance non-violent conflict resolution, and 
                      advocate for human dignity.

Whereas the people of Colombia continue to suffer after more than forty years of 
        uninterrupted armed conflict involving government forces, guerilla 
        groups, and paramilitaries rooted in social, economic, and political 
        exclusion and inequalities, and financed by drug trafficking and other 
        criminal activities;
Whereas according to the Colombian Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement 
        (CODHES), since 1985, more than 3,000,000 Colombians have been forcibly 
        displaced from their homes and land due to armed conflict, resulting in 
        the most serious humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere;
Whereas although Colombia has decreased its homicide rate, violence continues to 
        be the leading cause of death;
Whereas violence is the second leading cause of death for Colombian children 
        ages 5 to 14 years;
Whereas violence is the leading cause of death for Colombian women between the 
        ages of 15 and 39 years old--17 per 100,000--killing twice as many women 
        as the second leading cause of death, complications from pregnancy and 
        childbirth;
Whereas the homicide rate for Colombian males between the ages of 15 and 44 
        stands at a startling 221 per 100,000, according to the Colombian 
        Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization;
Whereas Colombian civil society, including women's groups, churches and 
        communities of campesinos, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous people, are 
        making courageous efforts to promote peace, conflict resolution, and 
        democracy in the face of armed conflict and extreme violence that 
        includes massacres, killings, forced disappearances, kidnappings, 
        torture, and extortion;
Whereas local peace-building efforts are essential for self-protection, for the 
        prevention of violent displacement, for reconciliation, and for 
        advancing human rights;
Whereas the Peace Sanctuary Church (Iglesias Santuarios de Paz) Movement in 
        Montes de Maria region, and other parts of Colombia, is making a vital 
        contribution to local and regional peace-building efforts;
Whereas Afro-Colombian communities in the Pacific coastal region are active in 
        the peace-building movement, including the Peace Community of San Jose 
        de Apartado, San Francisco de Asis, Jiguamiando, Curvarado, CAVIDA, and 
        the Main Black Community Councils of Middle Atrato, Naya, Yurumangui, 
        Cajambre, Mayorquino, and Raposo;
Whereas indigenous communities are advancing conflict resolution and peaceful 
        solutions in the province of Cauca, including the Nasa Project in 
        Toribio, San Francisco, and Tacueyo, and the Global Project in Jambalo 
        and Piendamo;
Whereas civil society groups are courageously promoting peace, including the 
        Medellin Youth Network, the Middle Magdalena Peace and Development 
        Program, and the Municipal Constituency Assemblies of Tarso, Mogotes, 
        Riachuelo and Micoahumado;
Whereas women and women's groups, such as the Women's Route (Ruta Pacifica de 
        Mujeres), a network of more than 300 women's organizations, the Popular 
        Female Organization (Organizacion Feminina Popular), and the Women's 
        International League for Peace and Freedom, have been critical to local 
        peace-building in Colombia;
Whereas leaders and members of local peace-building initiatives throughout 
        Colombia have been victims of or live with the threat of extrajudicial 
        executions, violence, and kidnapping by left-wing guerillas and right-
        wing paramilitaries;
Whereas churches and faith communities in the United States and Colombia, as 
        well as non-governmental organizations working for peace, democracy and 
        human rights in Colombia, provide on-going support, advocacy, and a 
        voice for the millions of Colombians struggling to survive in the face 
        of poverty, displacement, and violence;
Whereas many members of the religious communities across the United States are 
        working in solidarity with Peace Communities, Peace Sanctuary Churches, 
        and other local peace-building initiatives in Colombia;
Whereas Colombia's government is a major beneficiary of United States foreign 
        assistance, and has received close to $5,000,000,000 in military, 
        counter-narcotics, and other aid since 2000; and
Whereas the United States has a significant strategic interest in assisting 
        Colombia and its people to end armed conflict and drug trafficking, 
        promote human rights, allow displaced families to return to their 
        traditional land and communities under appropriate human security 
        conditions, and establish a process for peaceful reconciliation, 
        justice, and restoring the rule of law: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the courage and supports the determination of 
        leaders and members of civil society and faith communities who 
        are risking their lives every day to advance local peace-
        building efforts, end violence and promote peace, human rights, 
        and human dignity in Colombia;
            (2) recognizes the service and commitment of churches, 
        faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations 
        in the United States and Colombia for their advocacy and 
        humanitarian assistance to promote peace, defend human rights, 
        and improve the lives of the people of Colombia who have been 
        displaced and marginalized;
            (3) urges the Secretary of State to recognize, promote, and 
        provide support for faith-based organizations and non-
        governmental organizations in Colombia, and their partners in 
        the United States, for efforts to provide humanitarian 
        assistance, promote peace and conflict resolution, advance 
        human rights, and end the armed conflict in Colombia; and
            (4) calls upon the Secretary of State to monitor any acts 
        of violence or human rights abuses committed against leaders or 
        members of local peace-building efforts in Colombia by 
        government forces, guerilla groups, or paramilitaries.
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