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.

document

Transformación de conflictos dentro de movimientos sociales de paz

Speaking notes for a presentation sharing ideas and considerations about conflict transformation within and through social movements for peace.

presentation

En Clave de Cambio

Remarks given at the II Congreso Internacional de Construcción de Paz y Género en el Servicio de Policía in November 2020.

2020

presentation

Taller sobre construcción de paz

A peacebuilding workshop shared at the conference Construcción de paz y retos del posacuerdo hosted by the Instituto de Estudios Políticos y Relaciones Internacionales in Bogotá, Colombia in September 2016.

2016

presentation

Estudio comparado del Acuerdo Final: retos y desafíos para su implementación

A presentation on the results of a comparative study of the Colombian peace agreement in an event organized by Función Pública and the Oficina del Alto Comisionado para la Paz held on February 16, 2017.

2017