In Memoriam

In memory of María Ligia Chaverra, “Enduring Matriarch of Curvaradó” (1942-2021), accompanied by PBI for 20 years.

““I hope that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will experience a new Colombia, a Colombia at peace.” ”.

It was with deep sadness that PBI received the news of the passing of the much respected Afro-Colombian leader from the Bajo Atrato region, María Ligia Chaverra, who died at the age of 81 on 24 June, 2021. María Ligia was a founder of the Humanitarian Zones of the Curvaradó basin and legal representative of the Community Council for six years. She was accompanied by the Justice and Peace Commission (JyP) since 1999 and, through them, by PBI Colombia. María Ligia was known for her courage and tireless work in defence of her people’s territory, their right to land restitution, and their ethnic rights. María Ligia dedicated her life to bringing attention to the serious risks faced by communities in Bajo Atrato, in the face of illegal operations by palm and banana plantation companies, as well as denouncing crimes such as assassinations, disappearances and forced displacements. Despite having been forcibly displaced 13 times during her lifetime as a result of paramilitary incursions in alliance with the National Army, María Ligia never lost her energy and hope for a better future. Read our last interview with her here.

Contact: comunicaciones@pbicolombia.net | coin@pbicolombia.net | pbicolombia.org The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Peace Brigades International, nor those of its funders. ©PBI Colombia – All rights reserved Bogotá, July 2022 2 In Memoriam

6 Who are we?

7 Key work areas 8 Where do we work?

11 2021: Getting back to walking alongside defenders

12 In figures

16 Social unrest amid socio-political violence and humanitarian crises 22 Physical accompaniment 32 Advocacy 40 Raising awareness of the serious and ongoing threats faced by human rights defenders 46 Support for the reconstruction of social fabric 50 The long-awaited reunion 54 The people will never give up! 58 Resisting in a forgotten territory 60 Global Humanitarian Agreement to protect lives 64 Human Resources

68 Financial report 73 Donors

Peace Brigades International is a non-governmental, non-confessional, and independent international organisation that has been carrying out international observation and accompaniment work in Colombia since 1994. Our mission is to protect the work space of those human rights defenders who face attacks due to their work in the defence and promotion of human rights and social justice. PBI works solely at the request of local organisations and does not seek to replace their initiatives, but rather to support them using an integral protection model, which includes: • Physical accompaniment and international observation in the field.

• Political advocacy within and outside Colombia. • Dissemination of information and awareness-raising on the human rights situation. • Facilitation of workshops to strengthen and reconstruct the Colombian social fabric.

PBI Colombia works from a prevention and protection mandate, with a differential and inter-sectional approach, placing special attention on the situation of vulnerable groups, including women defenders and peasant, indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities who non-violently resist in their territories. To do so, PBI carries out a differentiated analysis of the risks faced by these groups so that specific protection mechanisms can be developed adapted to their needs. • Presence of observers and international accompaniment in the field.

• Dialogue with Colombian civilian and military authorities, the diplomatic community accredited in Colombia, international organisations and different European and US authorities.

• Production and distribution of documents and other materials providing information on the accompanied organisations and their protection needs. • Support for the reconstruction of social fabric through the provision of self-protection workshops.

Where do we work?