The Colombian government and Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) rebels have reached an agreement to remove landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ammunition on the battlefield.
Both parties have agreed to provide information about the location of mines and other explosives. The Norwegian People’s Aid organization will coordinate a project to clear the battlefields of all explosives.
The commitment made by both parties to decontaminate territories where landmines and other explosive are present is a significant step towards achieving peace. Colombia and FARC have been involved in ongoing peace talk in La Havana, Cuba for over two years.
The decision took place just weeks after Nobel Laureate Jody Williams and #SurvivorsUnited member Jineth Bedoya Lima sent an open letter to FARC, asking for the group to eliminate the use of landmines.
In early February, Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams traveled to Colombia with the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence #SurvivorsUnited delegation. Laureates spoke with President Santos about the importance of including women and survivors of sexual violence in the peace negotiations.
Learn More
Colombia and FARC rebels reach deal to clear landmines, Aljazeera, 8 March 2015.
Colombia Military, FARC to Clear Landmines Together, Latin America News Dispatch, 9 March 2015.
Colombia landmines: Farc to help army clear minefields, BBC News, 7 March 2015.
Take Action
Follow the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict on Facebook, Twitter, and check out the #SurvivorsUnited blog to learn about sexual violence in Colombia.