Dear Friends,

“Peace has no future, only the present. We do not build it tomorrow, but TODAY, in the way that it is TODAY that we build COMMUNITY.” ~Eduar Lanchero, deceased member of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado

Yesterday, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced that, after four years of negotiations, they have reached a final agreement to officially end over 50 years of armed conflict. Last night, crowds gathered to listen to a live broadcast of the announcement and to celebrate the agreement, which will officially be signed on September 23rd.

At FORPP, we believe that signing an agreement to end Colombia’s armed conflict presents an unprecedented opportunity to put an end to the devastation of decades of war. We also congratulate civil society and human rights defenders for their daily, ongoing efforts throughout the armed conflict to construct a sustainable and lasting peace across the country.

With big goals come big challenges. Much work remains to truly end violence and create a more just society post-accord, including addressing the continued presence of armed groups and implementing an accord that addresses many complex and historic issues in the Colombian conflict.

Through our Longing for Peace campaign, our partners have expressed a mix of emotions, longings, concerns, opinions and reflections about what peace means for them day in and day out. We will continue to provide physical safety and political visibility to them, as they continue to do the everyday work that makes real peace possible.

In solidarity,

The FOR Peace Presence Team