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.

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.

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.

Lecciones y Aprendizajes

Lessons and learnings from a lifetime of peacebuilding shared in a seminar with students for the Fundación Ideas para la Paz in Bogotá, Colombia.

Diálogos Improbables en el territorio: convivencia y desarrollo desde intereses y derechos opuestos

Remarks delivered at El Encuentro Internacional de Diálogo entre Opuestos en Procesos de Transición in Bogotá, Colombia.

Una altra seguretat és possible: Seguretat Humana versus (in)seguretat militar

A lecture delivered at the Conferències Curs d'Estiu of the Universitat Internacional de la Pau in July 2018.

Las verdades que conviven

A lecture and conversation with Father Francisco de Roux, the final conversation in a series entitled “Hablemos de verdad.”

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.

Hablemos de convivencia

A panel discussion for las Semanas por la Convivencia organized by Colombia's Comisión de la Verdad.

Los acuerdos no terminan los conflictos

A lecture delivered at the University of Cartagena in Colombia in contribution to the conference Diálogos de Paz.