Come and hear more about the peace process from a Colombian human rights lawyer and UK supporters

Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. Despite the 2016 peace agreement, hundreds of other activists; including environmental campaigners, women’s leaders and human rights defenders have been murdered in recent years. British trade unions have long supported Colombian civil society in its struggle for human rights, workers’ rights, peace and social justice.

Diego Martinez is a Colombian human rights lawyer who was involved in developing the peace agreement. He was legal adviser to the FARC during the 2012-2016 peace negotiations and co-designed the chapter on victims and transitional justice. He was previously head of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights (CPDH), one of Colombia’s oldest human rights organisations, which provides legal support to trade unions, including members jailed on false charges.

Diego has been targeted several times over his work. In October 2018, a paramilitary group threatened to kill his family and he received further threats in November 2019.

Join this special meeting with Diego Martinez on what the future holds for Colombia’s peace process and how the international community can support it.

Chair:

Tim Roache, TUC General Council lead for International Relations and General Secretary GMB

Speakers:

Mariela Kohon, Senior International Officer, TUC

Diego Martinez, Colombian Human Rights Lawyer

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Shadow Foreign Minister for the Americas and the Asia Pacific