COLOMBIA
nomadesc
The Association for Research and Social Action (NOMADESC) is a Colombian Human Rights organization. NOMADESC has been working with communities affected by the Internal Armed Conflict by promoting respect for human rights and ongoing peace processes in Colombia.
NOMADESC works on human rights education and research, as well as provides legal and other support for community human rights committees as part of a holistic strategy to defend the rights of indigenous, Afro-Colombian, peasant, labour and student organizations, and rural and marginalized urban communities. NOMADESC works primarily in the southwestern provinces of Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Nariño, Huila, Pacific Region in Buenaventura, Choco and Tumaco, the coffee belt region in Risaralda and Quindio, and the Central Region in Tolima and Cundinamarca.
Among NOMADESC’S strategic objectives are: the Intercultural University of the Peoples process, which encourages the creation of a proposal for democratic participation in the empowerment of communities; Legal Advocacy and Strategic Litigation which aims to reduce the levels of impunity in serious violations against fundamental, civic, political, social and cultural rights, and; finally, the communications strategy which highlights the comprehensive defense of life, territory and culture at all levels of society.
CoDev program area: Human and Labour Rights
Canadian partners: BCGEU (since 2007), CUPE BC (since 2003), CUPE Global Justice Fund (since 2003), CUPE Metro Vancouver District Council (since 2023)
SINTRACUAVALLE
SINTRACUVALLE, is a trade union organization of workers and employees of the Society of Aqueducts and Sewers of Valle del Cauca, ACUAVALLE S.A ESP; it relies on the union’s membership, the idea that water belongs in public hands and the commitment of service to guarantee the health of 700,000 users who live in the 33 municipalities of the Department of Valle del Cauca.
SINTRACUAVALLE’s purpose is to monitor and promote respect for human, labour and trade union rights. They are aiming to guarantee the dignified and equitable treatment of the membership and to strengthen the credibility, trust and commitment of its members so they can build quality public services.
CoDev program area: Human and Labour Rights
Canadian partners: CUPE Global Justice Fund (since 2012), CUPE Nova Scotia (since 2012), CUPE Newfoundland Labrador (since 2013).
Fecode
The Colombian Education Workers’ Federation is a national federation of 33 departmental education workers’ unions committed to ensuring quality, without cost, public education for all Colombians.
A partner since 2010, FECODE implements diverse strategies to defend public education, such as the National Pedagogical Movement, and the Alternative Pedagogical Program which promotes research and analysis on the current state of public education, the establishment of Pedagogical Circles made up of teachers, parents and students across the country, and the development of policy proposals to improve public education in Colombia.
FECODE considers that dialogue and a political solution to the post-conflict scenario is necessary and important in the construction of lasting peace. Currently FECODE develops the democratic and cultural program “Schools as a Territories of Peace” through the creation and consolidation of Pedagogical Circles capable of identifying and designing alternative pedagogical proposals for peace.
CoDev program area: Education — Research and Coalition Building