Colombia: Finding the Path to Peace

Council of the Americas will hold a discussion on Colombia’s quest for peace with Senator Ivan Duque Márquez of the Movimiento Centro Democrático.

After the surprise rejection of Colombia’s proposed peace deal in the October 2 plebiscite, debates persist around specific provisions on impunity and political participation of rebels of the FARC or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Vocal opponents of the agreement argue there are no clear measures to induce the FARC to compensate victims of its civil war. Opponents also argue that perpetrators of crimes should be subjected to criminal prosecution and be prevented from participating in Colombia’s political system.

Former President Álvaro Uribe, who led the “No” campaign in the referendum and took a hard line against the government’s overtures throughout the peace negotiations, recently appointed Duque Márquez to a commission agreed to with President Juan Manuel Santos that will seek common ground between the “No” and “Yes” camps. As the whole country rallies for peace, what steps must be taken to achieve consensus?

Infographic: Colombia's No Vote by the Numbers

To register: Email us at dcprograms@as-coa.org  

RSVP no later than 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3.