“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” ― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl

One of the key issues in the peace accord between the state and the FARC and other human rights processes taking place in Colombia is the recognition and rights of victims of the armed conflict.

Late last year PBI accompanied a victim’s commemoration “All the faces, all the names, Puerto Berrío lives and dreams” in Puerto Berrío, Antioquia organised and hosted by the Magdalena Medio Victim´s Association  (ASORVIMM) and the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights  (CREDHOS).

In addition to an interesting and emotive panel discussion on the rights of persons killed and missing in the armed conflict, the emotional commemoration included cultural and symbolic activities such as live music, dance, acrobatics and theatre, a shared lunch, and march all aimed at remembering Puerto Berrío’s victims of armed conflict.

– Sarah Cates, a lawyer from New Zealand, has been a human rights field volunteer for the PBI Colombia project since June 2015, mainly the Magdalena Medio region.  In 2002 Sarah visited Colombia as a tourist and this experience further opened her social conscience and led her to return to Colombia.