Victims of Colombia’s Armed Conflict Receive National Peace Prize
Madres de la Candelaria receives UNDP grant and national support
By Amparo Díaz y María Paulina García, UNDP Colombia

The non-profit organization Asociación Caminos de Esperanza Madres de la Candelaria was created bymore than 100 mothers in the city of Medellin. Every Wednesday, for the past 7 years, mothers have met in front of the Church of La Candelaria, chanting “We want them alive, free and in peace.” This ‘planton’–a symbolic and religious act–was their main demonstration method during the first five years. Progressively, they continued with regular meetings for other activities and in 2003 the organization was legally constituted.

The Madres de la Candelaria initially focused on making their cause visible, participating in public debates and getting training on issues related to peace and reconciliation. Now, they play an essential role in the implementation of the national Justice and Peace Law. Building relations with the National Reparation and Reconciliation Commission and the Regional Commission has given the organization the opportunity to analyze, discuss and present proposals, coming from victims like themselves, on victim’s reparation and reconciliation.

UNDP Colombia, through the Reconciliation and Development Programme (REDES) Programme and the BCPR/BRSP Small Grants Programme has supported the Madres de la Candelaria since 2005. In 2005, UNDP awarded the Madres de la Candelaria a grant of USD 12,000. Although the financial contribution was small, the political support that accompanied it was fundamental to the cause.

In 2006, the organization received the National Peace Prize in recognition of the victims of the armed conflict. This Annual Prize is given by a Committee composed of the most important national media, the Foundation Friedrich Ebert of Colombia, as well as UNDP. In accepting the award, the Madres de la Candelaria noted, “We want to share this Prize with all the disappeared and kidnapped people in our country, so that one day they can tell us who took them and where they are.” For members such as Teresita Gaviria, whose son disappeared eight years ago, this is critical. She states: “My son Cristian Camilo, 15 years old, never came back. I have not received ever any proof of his being still alive, despite of all the efforts I have made to find him. I was so desperate to find him that I resigned from my job and began participating in demonstrations against forced disappearance and kidnapping.”

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