Objectives
News 
Nansen Refugee Award 2014 granted to a Columbian organisation
Mariana Andrei - Communication Coordinator
16 September 2014
Whereas last year UNHCR granted the Nansen Refugee Award to Nun Angelique Namaika, this year's winner is the Columbian organisation Red Mariposas de Alas Nuevas Construyendo Futuro.
The organisation fights for the rights of women who were subject to forced displacement and sexual abuse. The award giving ceremony will be held on 29 September in Geneva.
Women healing the wounds of other women in Buenaventura
Red Mariposas de Alas Nuevas Construyendo Futuro works with more than 100 volunteers and 19 coordinators, mostly women, who risk their lives to help other women, victims of forced displacement, physical violence or rape.
Columbia, with 5 million displaced people, is surpassed worldwide only by Syria in terms of the numbers of persons affected by internal displacement. Nowhere in the country is the devastation from the five decades of armed conflict felt as acutely as it is in Buenaventura. This town, an industrial port, has one of the highest rates of violence and displacement, as a result of exacerbated rivalries between illegal armed groups, with women being usually the target of these conflicts. "These women are doing extraordinary work in the most challenging of contexts. Each day they seek to heal the wounds of the women and children of Buenaventura and in doing so put their own lives at risk. Their bravery goes beyond words”, said António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The volunteers of Red Mariposes organisation take over victims of forced displacement or abuse and support them to assert their rights and rebuild their lives. In most cases victims are afraid to report sexual violence, and the few women who do it remain unprotected, because they often live close to their aggressors. Building trust in such an environment is a slow and difficult process. Red Mariposas operates by the “comadreo” principle, which has a special meaning in the Afro-Columbian culture, being a combination of respect, trust, solidarity and confidentiality. The life skill workshops and the trainings on their rights are the cornerstone of the support given by Mariposas. Women meet here and - realising they are not alone in their suffering - gradually regain their self-esteem and strength.
Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of UNHCR, praised the work of the award winners and said that "Mariposas draw on their strength as women to help thousands of vulnerable people, who would otherwise have no rights and no protection. By winning this award, I hope it helps more people everywhere to understand that we have to change attitudes to sexual violence, and to help end impunity for these crimes".
Who are the representatives of Red Mariposas?
Gloria Amparo, Maritza Asprilla Cruz and Mery Medina are some of the women involved in the Columbian organisation. Gloria has long been a fervent women's rights activist, having been herself abused in her childhood. Facing extreme poverty and a father who was constantly beating her mother, Gloria planned to dedicate her life to women who were victims of violence. In 1993 she had to flee to Bogota to save her life. She helped with the establishment of Mariposas, thus also encouraging others to defend women's rights. Maritza's story is similar to Gloria's, having grown up in poverty and abuse. Her mother was regularly beaten by her step father. She joined the organisation two years ago, after meeting Gloria who convinced her that she could also help women traumatized by violence. Now Maritza encourages, on her turn, other women to do volunteering. Mery, another representative of Mariposas, guides women to access the organisation's services, reports crimes and seeks medical aid when needed. Mery believes that sexual violence will no longer be an invisible scourge in Buenaventura. Luz, one of the women who benefited from the organisation's support, had to flee from a small village on the Pacific coast and settled in Buenaventura. Intimidated by the local illegal army and threatened that her 10 year old daughter would be raped, Luz intervened to protect her daughter and was raped. She was traumatized for many years. "I will never forget that moment, the rape, and what happened. I also lost my husband after the rape. He left. My smile was gone", said Luz. However she had the courage to break the silence and report the rape to authorities. "Through the network, I’ve grown stronger. It’s given me the courage to speak out. I realized I cannot keep my secret inside." Luz works now in the organisation, giving advice to rape survivors and displaced women.
Sexual and gender violence
80% of displaced persons in Columbia are women and at least 50% of them experienced sexual or gender violence. This is a direct cause of displacement and a war weapon used by armed groups to impose control upon communities. According to statistics from countries in the region, most Columbian refugees are in Ecuador (59,000), Costa Rica (6,962), Venezuela (4,259) and Panama (1,962). The conflict between illegal armies and rival groups is the main cause of the increased number of displaced people. There is a generalised fear of armed conflicts and their consequences: recruitment of children, sexual violence, crime, torture, kidnapping. In many cases fleeing is seen as the only escape. Eleven women were killed in violences only in the first half of 2014, more than the number of women declared killed in the whole 2013.
The Nansen Award, now at its 60th edition, acknowledges outstanding services and dedication to support refugees, internally displaced people and stateless persons. The award includes a commemorative medal and a 100,000 USD financial reward.
Source: www.unhcr.org/nansenmaterials
The organisation fights for the rights of women who were subject to forced displacement and sexual abuse. The award giving ceremony will be held on 29 September in Geneva.
Women healing the wounds of other women in Buenaventura
Red Mariposas de Alas Nuevas Construyendo Futuro works with more than 100 volunteers and 19 coordinators, mostly women, who risk their lives to help other women, victims of forced displacement, physical violence or rape.
Columbia, with 5 million displaced people, is surpassed worldwide only by Syria in terms of the numbers of persons affected by internal displacement. Nowhere in the country is the devastation from the five decades of armed conflict felt as acutely as it is in Buenaventura. This town, an industrial port, has one of the highest rates of violence and displacement, as a result of exacerbated rivalries between illegal armed groups, with women being usually the target of these conflicts. "These women are doing extraordinary work in the most challenging of contexts. Each day they seek to heal the wounds of the women and children of Buenaventura and in doing so put their own lives at risk. Their bravery goes beyond words”, said António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The volunteers of Red Mariposes organisation take over victims of forced displacement or abuse and support them to assert their rights and rebuild their lives. In most cases victims are afraid to report sexual violence, and the few women who do it remain unprotected, because they often live close to their aggressors. Building trust in such an environment is a slow and difficult process. Red Mariposas operates by the “comadreo” principle, which has a special meaning in the Afro-Columbian culture, being a combination of respect, trust, solidarity and confidentiality. The life skill workshops and the trainings on their rights are the cornerstone of the support given by Mariposas. Women meet here and - realising they are not alone in their suffering - gradually regain their self-esteem and strength.
Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of UNHCR, praised the work of the award winners and said that "Mariposas draw on their strength as women to help thousands of vulnerable people, who would otherwise have no rights and no protection. By winning this award, I hope it helps more people everywhere to understand that we have to change attitudes to sexual violence, and to help end impunity for these crimes".
Who are the representatives of Red Mariposas?
Gloria Amparo, Maritza Asprilla Cruz and Mery Medina are some of the women involved in the Columbian organisation. Gloria has long been a fervent women's rights activist, having been herself abused in her childhood. Facing extreme poverty and a father who was constantly beating her mother, Gloria planned to dedicate her life to women who were victims of violence. In 1993 she had to flee to Bogota to save her life. She helped with the establishment of Mariposas, thus also encouraging others to defend women's rights. Maritza's story is similar to Gloria's, having grown up in poverty and abuse. Her mother was regularly beaten by her step father. She joined the organisation two years ago, after meeting Gloria who convinced her that she could also help women traumatized by violence. Now Maritza encourages, on her turn, other women to do volunteering. Mery, another representative of Mariposas, guides women to access the organisation's services, reports crimes and seeks medical aid when needed. Mery believes that sexual violence will no longer be an invisible scourge in Buenaventura. Luz, one of the women who benefited from the organisation's support, had to flee from a small village on the Pacific coast and settled in Buenaventura. Intimidated by the local illegal army and threatened that her 10 year old daughter would be raped, Luz intervened to protect her daughter and was raped. She was traumatized for many years. "I will never forget that moment, the rape, and what happened. I also lost my husband after the rape. He left. My smile was gone", said Luz. However she had the courage to break the silence and report the rape to authorities. "Through the network, I’ve grown stronger. It’s given me the courage to speak out. I realized I cannot keep my secret inside." Luz works now in the organisation, giving advice to rape survivors and displaced women.
Sexual and gender violence
80% of displaced persons in Columbia are women and at least 50% of them experienced sexual or gender violence. This is a direct cause of displacement and a war weapon used by armed groups to impose control upon communities. According to statistics from countries in the region, most Columbian refugees are in Ecuador (59,000), Costa Rica (6,962), Venezuela (4,259) and Panama (1,962). The conflict between illegal armies and rival groups is the main cause of the increased number of displaced people. There is a generalised fear of armed conflicts and their consequences: recruitment of children, sexual violence, crime, torture, kidnapping. In many cases fleeing is seen as the only escape. Eleven women were killed in violences only in the first half of 2014, more than the number of women declared killed in the whole 2013.
The Nansen Award, now at its 60th edition, acknowledges outstanding services and dedication to support refugees, internally displaced people and stateless persons. The award includes a commemorative medal and a 100,000 USD financial reward.
Source: www.unhcr.org/nansenmaterials
Back