colombia

John Paul's involvement in peacebuilding in Colombia began in the late 1980s. Beginning with Justapaz (the Mennonite Church of Colombia) and extending to community-based work, including with the Catholic Bishops Conference Social Outreach Program, Pastoral Social, he has accompanied the country’s long journey of building peace. Leading up to the 2016 peace agreement, John Paul worked the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace to develop a set of initiatives focused on invigorating local and regional peacebuilding in regions that have suffered a great deal of violence. Wide use of the terms ‘peacebuilding’ and ‘conflict transformation’ in Colombia trace their roots to John Paul’s early community level involvement, with contribution to the Accord’s use of the concept ‘territorial peace.’ John Paul currently serves on the Advisory Council to the Colombian Truth Commission. The resources in this section include books, articles, presentations, and interviews shared in or about the journey toward peace in Colombia.

presentation

Pepperdine University Lecture The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace

A contribution to the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series at Pepperdine University's Seaver College.

2010

interview

C-SPAN Interview John Paul Lederach on Solutions to Overcome Political Polarization

John Paul speaks with Tammy Thueringer about solutions to overcome toxic political polarization and the threat of civil war in the United States.

2024

interview

Grateful Living in Conversation

A conversation between John Paul and Joe Primo in contribution to the course, “Grateful Hope: Passion for the Possible.”

2024

video recording

John Paul Lederach y la rehumanización

A short clip of John Paul's reflections on dehumanization and rehumanization in Colombia.

2019

presentation

John Paul Lederach en ‘Verdad y no repetición: Legado para Colombia y la justicia transicional’

John Paul’s reflections on the legacy of Colombia’s Truth Commission.

2022

presentation

Ponencia de John Paul Lederach

A lectured delivered for a conference entitled, “Desarme integral en América Latina y el Caribe,” organized by the Alianza por el Desarme.

2022

presentation

Cómo funciona y cuáles son los riesgos de la polarización

Con miras a las elecciones de 2022 en Colombia, el experto en construcción de paz John Paul Lederach analiza los riesgos de la polarización en el país.

2021

presentation

Caminos y conversaciones de cuatro décadas

Conferencia de John Paul Lederach, con comentarios y reflexiones de Gastón Aín y Francisco Diez, en el marco del III Congreso Americano de Mediación, organizado por Fundación Mediar.

2021

presentation

¿A qué te comprometes por la paz?

A short video clip of John Paul's remarks at a conference entitled ¿Cómo construir paz en los territorios? held in Bogotá, Colombia in February 2016.

2016

more reflections