Laura V. Caicedo Espinel, Bachelors in Conflict Studies and Human Rights
Host country : Colombia
Canadian NGO : Mines Action Canada (MAC)
Local NGO : Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines
When I misbehaved, my Colombian mom used to tell me that she would ship me back to Colombia, so I would see the real world and learned a lesson. She never did, of course. Nonetheless, what seemed to be a threat of a punishment, is now an absolute delight. I found out about the opportunity to participate in an international internship around December 2023 – very late, – while I was researching the rest of my course requirements. When I saw the opportunity of partnering with Mines Action Canada (MAC) and The Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL), I instantly felt it was meant to be. A voice in my head kept telling me to come back. I missed my country, my family, the culture – my roots and bonds. I also had numerous questions regarding the Colombian conflict, the Peace Accords, the internationally-recognized post-conflict era. I was curious and wanted to see it myself.
Although the process was sometimes overwhelming, I made it to Colombia. The CCBL is a non-governmental organization that seeks to uphold and promote the norms set out by the 1997 Ottawa Convention, with the objective of eradicating the production and use of antipersonnel landmines. In Colombia, they are pioneers in the context of Humanitarian Demining (HD), Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), and Assistance to Víctims (AV). They are a fully functioning machine with a goal in mind: To eradicate explosive artifacts from the rural areas of Colombia, and , in turn, empowerthe ethnic communities most affected by the conflict – AfroColombians, Indigenous, andmestizos (farmers). They have different departments ranging fromthe obvious Human Resources an Accounting, to Communications and International Reach, Project Management, the regional offices that carry out all the work related to demining, risk education, and victim assistance, and so many more. I definitely had anxiety coming into this opportunity, being Colombian by nationality and, at the same time, a foreigner – Canadian no less, – but I was more than ready to get to work.
All my concerns washed away when I finally met the team, and got to share lunch time with them, while answering their questions about my background story, my life in Canada, my studies and my interests. While remaining professional, the office dynamics seemed friendly, light, and positive. A smile forms on my face when the elevator doors open, and the only thing one can notice is the lingering smell of coffee. The cleaning ladies, Yeimi and then Maria, light up the room on a daily basis when they pass by each desk distributing fresh hand-cut fruits. Yet, the most impactful thing is when I open my computer to start redacting the minutes of a United Nations’ conference presenting a series of panelists discussing the issue of Child Recruitment by Non-State Armed Groups in Colombia, the risk factors, and the intersecting dynamics of gender-based violence that occurs during the recruitment process. Or, when I’m uploading the monthly reports regarding the CCBL’s demining activities to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Or, When I assisted my team in drafting the report on the demining projects conducted in Putumayo for submission to the sponsor, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am reminded that real people are affected by violence every day.
Sadly, I came to realize that the Colombian conflict had not ended with the 2016 Peace Accords; it had completely transformed, which poses several limitations to the organization’s operations in the rural areas. Although the peace treaty initiated a ceasefire, and an important wave of demobilization of of the largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the dynamics of the narcotraffic industry paired with governmental inefficacies have led to the conflict’s reconfiguration. Some ex-combatants have taken their arms again, which has reignited the large-scale violence in the Colombian periphery. Consequently, the organization has to rely on community authorization and community alerts in order to safely carry out demining work, limiting their overall reach. It also limits the organization’s long-lasting impacts, as there is nothing guaranteeing that these new Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG) are not producing and laying new explosive artifacts either in new areas, or in already certified cleared areas. The reality of an active rural-based conflict is fairly complex, yet it co-exists with the most beautiful landscapes, the most welcoming, colourful, resilient people, and the tastiest foods and coffee. I’ve grasped my privilege, and I think I’m learning the lesson my mom used to lovingly threaten me with. Every new task is a humble reminder of my family’s struggles and hard work for me to be where I am. I am grateful I made this decision, and I’m happy to be connected to the country’s history, the language, and the culture. It has made it easier in terms of integrating the team and adapting to the workload, and it has provided me an opportunity to better understand the history and understand the cultural context of the conflict and its ramifications.