Ten Years of the Colombian Peace Process: Lessons for Scotland and the World

In partnership with GLARN and PSES, University of Glasgow.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Colombia’s Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace. Glasgow Latin American Research Network and the Peaceful, Secure and Empowered Societies Research Theme at the University of Glasgow are bringing together a programme of events that reflect on 10 years of peacebuilding in Colombia to identify lessons in policy, practice and thinking from civil society that hold relevance to Scotland and beyond. This programme is underpinned by the recognition that Colombian peacebuilding innovations can help to address challenges in Scotland around sectarianism, social division, hate crime and identity-based tensions, strengthening inclusive dialogue across diverse communities.

The programme opens with a workshop and fashion show exploring the role of social enterprise and textiles for peacebuilding in Colombia and lessons for Scotland. This will be followed by a day-long symposium at the University of Glasgow with a focus on social dialogue, bridgebuilding, and a reflection on the Truth Commission in Colombia. The final event in this series is a peace education simulation for students influenced by peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Building on burgeoning Scottish-Colombian networks, the events will include collaboration with organisations such as Manifiesta, Valiente es Dialogar, and Rodeemos el dialogo, as well as Scottish organisations and SPP members.