Justice for Colombia
Justice for Colombia was set up in 2002 by the British trade union movement to support Colombian civil society in its struggle for human rights, labour rights, peace and social justice.
All JFC work is carried out in response to the demands of our partners in Colombia: the political activists, trade unionists, peasant organisations, human rights defenders, and other civil society groups who are on the front line in demanding peace and social justice.
JFC promotes links of solidarity between British and Irish trade unions and organisations in Colombia and gives a political voice internationally to Colombian civil society through our work in the British, Irish and EU Parliaments.
JFC was directly involved in supporting the Havana Peace Process between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP.
JFC has a small team of staff based in London who manage the day-to-day activities. Our National Committee, which decides what campaigns and projects we will prioritise, is made up of prominent trade union leaders and labour lawyers.[1]
Staff
- Hasan Dodwell, Director
- Nick MacWilliam, Trade Unions and Programmes Officer
- Isabella Woolford-Diaz, Administrative and Finance Officer
- Niall Finn, Parliamentary Officer[2]
Affiliates
Justice for Colombia is backed by numerous trade unions and specialist labour law firms who provide the financial, logistical and political support necessary to carry out our work.
A special mention goes to ASLEF who have provided JFC with an office since we were founded! Without ASLEF, our work would not be possible.[3]
Parliamentary Friends of Colombia
Justice for Colombia works closely with the Parliamentary Friends of Colombia group formed of over 60 MPs and Lords from the British Parliament.
The Parliamentary Friends of Colombia group monitors the human rights situation in Colombia and the policies of the British Government towards Colombia.
2018 JFC delegation
The JFC Peace Monitor was launched in early 2018 to provide international support and monitoring for the 2016 peace agreement signed between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP. Although the agreement formally ended decades of armed conflict between the two sides, much of Colombia has remained impacted by political instability and violence. Over 500 community leaders, trade unionists and human rights defenders have been murdered since the agreement was signed in November 2016, as well as almost 190 FARC former guerrillas in the reincorporation process.
During its visit, the delegation met with:
The Presidential Counsellor for Stabilisation and Consolidation, Emilio Archila. Leaders of the FARC political party (which formed under the terms of the agreement). The Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
Senior representatives from the following entities created in the peace agreement: the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, which investigates and sanctions human rights violations committed during the conflict; the Search Unit for Disappeared People, which aims to locate many of the estimated 80,000 people forcibly disappeared during the conflict; and the Truth Commission, which is compiling testimonies and other historical records to document the armed conflict.
2018 Justice for Colombia @nd delegation
Jo Stevens MP, Tony Lloyd MP, John McCallister Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Stephen Cavalier Thompsons Solicitors, Nick Crook UNISON, Mark Fairhurst POA, Paul Glover UNISON, Sally Hunt TUC, John Metcalf ASLEF, Joe Simpson POA, Mick Whelan Justice for Colombia governing committee and ASLEF.
2019 Justice for Colombia delegation
Justice for Colombia third delegation:
Dan Carden MP, Helen Goodman MP, Senator Paul Gavan Sinn Fein, Grahame Smith STUC, Eoin Ronayne Forsa, Dave Todd POA, Mick Pimblett POA, Philippa Marsden Unite the Union, Anne Speed UNISON Northern Ireland, Ian Byrne and Linda Perks Labour Councillors.
2020 Justice for Colombia delegation
The fourth delegation of the Justice for Colombia Peace Monitor visited Colombia between 16 and 21 February 2020. Formed of European parliamentarians and trade union officials, the delegation met with diverse actors in the Colombian peace process, as well as communities, trade unions and organisations impacted by human rights violations.
The delegates on the fourth JFC Peace Monitor mission to Colombia were:
- Clive Efford MP, Member of Parliament in the UK Parliament
- Neil Findlay MSP, Member of Parliament in the Scottish Parliament
- Adelina Escandell Grases, Senator in the Spanish state Senate
- Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Member of Parliament in the UK Parliament
- Sergio Bassoli, Political Officer, CGIL (Italy)
- Josie Bird, President, UNISON (Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Douglas Bruce Chalmers, President, UCU (Britain and Northern Ireland)
- David Frederick Kitchen, President, NASUWT (Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Margaret Mary McKee, Chair of International Committee, UNISON (Britain and Northern Ireland)
Gerry Murphy, President, ICTU (Ireland) Susan Quinn, Education Convener, EIS (Scotland) Hans Abildgard Sorensen, Regional President, 3F (Denmark)