SweFOR/Kristna Fredsrörelsen Colombia 2018-2022

Non-interference ensures the autonomy of the processes that SweFOR accompany, and their work allows the expansion of its action space. Accompanying processes ensures an impact on groups or communities, not just individuals, but they are also processes with one or more clear objectives, which usually benefit a larger group. During the pandemic SweFOR has made several learnings and developed new working methods. They have been pioneers in the work of digital accompaniment and they saw that it worked very well for example in hearings and closed meetings, as long as it did not replace the importance of physical presence in demonstrations and activities in the field. They have developed their competence and tools to the strengthening of capacities in self-protection in a digital way, as complementary methods to physical encounters. They will continue to take advantage of digital learning to better reach their work, when appropriate. Overall, SweFOR is pleased at how they have been able to adapt to Covid-19 and foresees this to be an integral part of its work in their upcoming strategy. The SweFOR office in Quibdó is currently assessing two new partners to their office: La Diocesis (Comision Vida Justicia y Paz de la Diócesis de Quibdó) who wanted SweFOR to open an office in Quibdó back in 2006 to observe the human rights violations in Chocó and ACABA (Consejo Comunitario Mayor del Rio Baudó y sus Afluentes) who represents 40 communities in Baudó. The work and support from SweFOR to local civil society organizations has facilitated the conditions for local communities to demand responsibility towards the state and other actors. SweFOR has together with partners been able to make the humanitarian crisis and the violation of human rights visible, as well as accompany confined communities.

Through this project, SweFOR will help strengthen the protection of human rights defenders and social leaders and expand their scope of action. In this way, they will be able to demand greater guarantees in the defense of their rights.