VIENNA, 23 September 2024 – In her documentary, Colombian director Margarita Martinez Escallón portrays the bravery of Colombian women advocating for peace and justice during and after the Colombian armed conflict between the government and para-military groups. The women featured in the film have suffered different kinds of trauma, such as experiencing sexual violence, physical abuse, and the loss of their relatives. In turn, these women have formed a movement to fight for justice and equality, making an essential contribution to peacebuilding in their country.
Before the film screening, a brief video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres was presented, in which he emphasized the importance of global peace. Then, director Martinez Escallon delivered a virtual greeting, expressing her gratitude to the various actors for their contribution and to the audience for participating in the event.
After the screening, an insightful discussion with various panelists took place. Rebecca Jovin, Chief of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Vienna Office, pointed to the academic research on how the participation of women in peace negotiations leads to “more sustainable peace agreements”. She also mentioned that the participation of women in the development of disarmament treaties has been growing, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Yet, even with this success, women are still underrepresented in this area.
Ava Novidi from UN Women Austria explained the work of her organization, both locally and globally, stating: “Over 90 country offices and their regional offices are advocating for women’s rights globally.” Working with the main institutions of the state and civil society organizations, the entity prioritizes the implementation of gender equality policies.
The importance of the gender perspective in peace agreements was highlighted by Marcela Torres, a doctoral researcher from the University of Vienna. She believes this perspective leads to an “expansion of the comprehension of what happened in a war situation”. Torres also explained how women's engagement has not only improved the well-being of women in Colombia but also that of minority groups such as LGBTIQ+ people who were previously excluded from the justice process in the country.
Lastly, Diana Kecan, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN in Vienna said: “The Colombian government today is trying to find truth and justice and is led by the slogan ‘reparation and no repetition’.” Colombia achieved a historic peace agreement in 2016 between the government and the largest paramilitary group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) calling for an end of violence and justice for victims of the conflict.
The women portrayed in the film have faced great difficulties but have been taught to never lose hope. The audience, touched by their powerful message, recognized that when individuals unite, they can achieve great change. Just like small rivers flowing across the lands, communities grow stronger together.
