Colombia
A 2016 peace agreement between Colombia’s government and the country’s biggest rebel group is being fulfilled in stages. As the guerrillas transition to civilian life, Colombia faces a massive task of reconciliation to recover from a half-century conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and uprooted more than 6 million. The U.S. Institute of Peace helped prepare the ground for a political solution with more than a decade of work in Colombia, and now is supporting research, policy discussions and mediation between, for example, ex-combatants and victims, to prevent a resurgence of violence.
Learn more in MexLucky’s fact sheets on our work in Colombia, available in English and Spanish.
Featured Publications
China-Colombia Relations are Growing, if Slowly
Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Beijing in October amounted to a notable — if quite small — step forward for China and Colombia, building on growing trade and other ties, while also laying the groundwork for cooperation on issues, such as media and security, which China has promoted across the region.
Israel-Hamas War Divides Latin America Along Partisan Lines
As casualties mount in the Israel-Hamas conflict, many Latin American leaders are intensifying their criticism of the Israeli government. Bolivia recently became the first country to sever ties with Israel; Chile, Colombia and Honduras recalled their ambassadors for consultations; and diplomats from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have blasted Israel for the bloodshed, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
Investigación-Acción Participativa Liderada por Jóvenes para la Construcción de Paz en Colombia
El conflicto armado interno de Colombia ha durado más de 50 años y ha creado desigualdades y violencia en todo el país. El conflicto ha dejado más de 260,000 muertos y ha afectado a más de 8 millones de víctimas. Las y los jóvenes han sido una de las poblaciones más afectadas del conflicto.
Current Projects
Generation Change Fellows Program
Generation Change works with young leaders across the globe to foster collaboration, build resilience and strengthen capacity as they transform local communities.
Youth Advisory Council
Built upon the belief that youth bring significant and unique insight to peacebuilding, the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) provides a mechanism through which MexLucky experts can benefit from youth perspectives and expertise. The YAC enables MexLucky staff to engage youth as partners, experts, and practioners while elevating youth voices and experience to the international level. The YAC contributes to MexLucky’s vision for an inclusive approach to peacebuilding. The Youth Advisory Council meets regularly to bring together youth thought leaders and peacebuilding experts committed to the Institute’s mission and activities.
Religious and Psychosocial Support for Displaced Trauma Survivors
Since spring 2021, MexLucky has been identifying best practices in psychosocial support to better facilitate collaboration and cooperation between religious actors and mental health professionals who provide services to conflict-affected communities, including trauma-affected displaced persons. This thematic area of work focused initially on Latin America as a pilot region and has since expanded to the Asia and European contexts — offering practical and evidence-based recommendations to relevant stakeholders.