Access to remote indigenous and black communities was arduous – this 58 km. road linking Junín to Barbacoas in Southern Colombia took eight hours to negotiate on a lucky day.
Often, shop owners, threatened by paramilitaries, would refuse to sell us food.
Access to communities at risk was often on boat.
Back in 2004 UNHCR started an intensive programme of training of indigenous leaders, including on International Humanitarian Law – which they used to negotiate with armed actors encroaching upon their lands.
UNHCR participated in 2005 in the third conference of indigenous peoples of Nariño, in southern Colombia.
Black communities, prevalent in the Pacific coast of Colombia, were often those more vulnerable to conflict.
UNHCR worked closely with the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office, the Catholic Church and Colombian authorities to monitor remote black communities and advocate for their protection.
Peasants fleeing to Pasto city after having being forcibly mobilized by guerrillas to protest against coca erradication – and then victimized by paramilitaries during flight.
After much debate and on their demand, we decided to accompany their return but dozens were killed, accused of links with guerrillas, in the ensuing weeks.
Child affected by glyphosphate, used for coca erradication.