The University of Cauca, led by its Peace Commission, the Corporation Ensayos, and the collective initiative 'Conspiring for Peace', carried out the event named 'Participating and Influencing in the Tour for Territorial Peace' on Friday, September 22 of this year, in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao. The objective was to present collectively constructed proposals regarding society's participation criteria in Peace dialogues. Additionally, the event aimed to discuss the current state of the negotiation table between the National Government and the ELN, as well as the status of the dialogue with the Central High Command (EMC) of the FARC.

With the purpose of becoming part of the public agenda between national Government negotiations and armed groups, various organizations representing women, youth, and LGBTQI+ individuals from northern Cauca have been preparing to influence regional and national political dialogues. This is achieved through the collective construction of peace proposals based on their diverse experiences, considering the context we face as a department. According to figures from the Defense Network for Life and Human Rights of Çxhab Wala Kiwe - ACIN, as of 2023, there have been 82 murders, 25 conflicts and harassments, 62 threats, 74 persecutions, 21 attacks, and 82 cases of forced recruitment of minors in northern Cauca.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from various organization representatives, multilateral bodies, and ethnic and intercultural authorities. Subsequently, Claudia Rodríguez, the ELN's peace facilitator, provided an overview of the progress in the Peace Process between the ELN guerrilla and the National Government. Likewise, Diana Granados, the coordinator of the University of Cauca's Peace Commission, contributed to this panorama from a historical and reflective perspective. "There's a historical opportunity that has never before been possible for rapprochement between the Colombian Government and the ELN. For the first time, this table has achieved significant progress that opens the door for democratic actors to influence and participate as the table has proposed. However, this progress occurs during a complex political moment, as there is weariness regarding the participation process."

Furthermore, a video was presented about the status of dialogues between the National Government and the Central High Command (EMC) of the FARC by Camilo Gonzales Poso, head of the State's Negotiation Commission in said dialogues.

In a subsequent session, the discussion centered on the role of Human Rights organizations in peace tables. Representatives from bodies such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the Social Pastoral Care, the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process, and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia intervened and later addressed various questions and concerns raised by the attendees.

To conclude this significant gathering, proposals were presented, and women, youth, and LGBTQI+ individuals handed them over to ethnic and intercultural authorities, as well as representatives from institutions such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the Social Pastoral Care, the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC), the National Association of Peasant Users of Colombia (ANUC), the People's Defender's Office, the Presidential Counseling for Women's Equity, the Association of Indigenous Councils of Cauca (ACIN), and the Mayor of Santander de Quilichao, among others. They received the proposals and committed to working together for the realization of these initiatives.

View proposal documents (https://www.unicauca.edu.co/versionP/sites/default/files/files/Documneto...)

Finally, it's important to mention that as the University of Cauca, through our Peace Commission, it is of great satisfaction to contribute from our role to the path in search of Territorial Peace. Particularly in the current times our department is facing, where our communities continue to be victims of violent actions. Thus, from this rectoral proposal of Excellence and Solidarity, we commit to continue promoting the various actions carried out by the organizations in our department, as they are the ones upholding hope to continue working towards building Comprehensive Peace.