To Give Peace a Chance in Colombia, It's Time to Protect Women Land Defenders

Nov 4, 2019 | Carmen Sanchez Cumming
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More than three years have passed since the government of Colombia signed a peace agreement with FARC rebels that promised to end the longest internal armed conflict in the Americas. A durable peace, however, remains elusive: Attacks against civil society leaders have surged as a new wave of armed groups vie for territory amid an expansion of large-scale mining activities and agribusiness.

The escalation of violence against women who defend their land, culture, and environment has been particularly stark. In the first quarter of 2019, attacks against female land defenders nearly doubled in the country compared with the same period last year. While people are speaking out against this alarming reality, more must be done to reverse these horrible trends.