Peace and Security for Colombian Women in Post-Accord Colombia

Women in Colombia are victims of domestic violence, gender, and sexual-based violence, as well as forced displacement. They often lack equal access to basic social, economic, political, and property rights, especially in rural and minority communities. Despite the 2012 launch of Colombia’s first National Gender Policy outlining strategies for female empowerment and gender equality in a range of areas, including anti-violence plans and the protection of internally displaced women, serious problems remain due to weak implementation of the related laws. Violence against women continues to be underreported for reasons related largely to a lack of confidence in the government’s response, fear of reprisal, or reasons of shame. In 2015, five female governors and 133 female mayors were elected; female representation in both positions increased from 2011 when three women were elected governor and 108 mayor. (Note: In total, Colombia has 32 governors and 1109 mayors. End note.) In 2015, the government reported women also occupied 226 of the Executive branch’s 601 high-level decision-making positions. Following the initiation of peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Havana, the government appointed two women sub-commission participants in 2013. Presently, one female sub-commission representative remains on the team. The Colombian government also approved the participation of a female FARC representative in the talks. Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin also played a pivotal role in the negotiations for the government. In 2014, government and FARC negotiators established a gender subcommittee comprised of representatives from both sides, which reviews all agenda items to ensure the agreements take gender-based perspectives into consideration.