Debate and agenda for a common struggle

 In the mornings, the plenary sessions mixed cultural performances with political analysis and testimonials from the various resistance groups. In the afternoons, working groups engaged in more in-depth debates and reached agreements for common actions.
We emphasized the patriarchy as the system which supports militarism and capitalism and is materialized in very concrete terms, such as instrumental personal relationships with teenagers in order to obtain information, or humiliation and sexual violence. These actions are many times accepted or reproduced by men who are also our comrades in arms. We issued a joint call to action to the world, against patriarchy and militarization, especially for October 17th, when we will promote a Day of Struggle in solidarity with women living in zones of conflict.
One of the papers by political scientist and journalist Laura Gil explains how the military presence in the county of La Dorada, very close to the Palanquero military base, has gained acceptance from people’s minds, putting a stop to reporting of crimes committed and leaving a large tolerance for the sex trade, mainly associated with poverty. Gil confirmed the existence of 15 brothels at the location and several websites that offer sexual services to military staff and other “consumers.”
From an international perspective, solidarity was extended to Honduras, Haiti and the five Cubans unfairly imprisoned in American jails. The integration with the campaign against militarization, relaunched in the Americas Social Forum in Paraguay, and the visibility of the results of the Colombian meeting in each of the countries present constituted other doors beginning to open.
The document, “Call and Appeal of the Women and Peoples of the Americas”, summarizes the agreements and commitments made around a common agenda, adopted by the different organizations participating in the meeting. Some of the actions confirmed by this plan included the promotion of the Women and People’s Colombian Court, work to strengthen social and women’s movements, participation in social and women’s movements, and participation in the People’s Congress of Colombia, to be held October 8th to 12th, as well as in the actions on October 17th.

Street actions: march and vigil
A Candlelight March, of resistance and memory, marked the night of the 21st in Barrancabermeja. Walking with candles and stones with the names of missing or dead people engraved on them, women claimed autonomy over their bodies and demanded the end of war and violence. The slogans read, “Women against war, women against capital, women against sexism and neoliberal terrorism.” Men were also a part of the march, which ended at Plaza de la Vida.
On August 23rd, the Vigil for Life (picture) marked the official closing of the meeting. After almost five hours in a bus, we reached Puerto Salgar, where we got off almost directly in front of the Palanquero military base. Deceitful pamphlets against us spread the lies that the investigations presented at the Barrancabermeja Meeting stated that the permanence of the military enclave in the area meant the birth of a village of prostitutes. From the platform, Yolanda Becerra denounced the intention of pitting the local people against us, reaffirmed our solidarity with the women of Puerto Salgar and responded to the hidden authors of the small pamphlets: we would continue our activities until the evening, as planned. From three in the afternoon until the evening, music, dance and theater with a high number of denunciations were once again intertwined with speeches. 
At the rally organized by the WMW we affirmed that: “We want to show the direct consequences of wars and conflicts on women’s lives, which go beyond those faced by the male population of countries in such situations. In a context of war, women’s bodies are appropriated as a resource, as a form of control, intimidation and plundering. Sexual violence is common, practiced by the army as well as by paramilitary groups and in local communities where men begin to reject and blame the women who are the victims of this aggression.” We also denounced the ideological manipulation displayed, for instance, in the “war on terror,” which impacts women’s lives, criminalizing members of social movements and restricting their right to freedom of movement. “This occurs with Colombian women, who are victims of the abuses committed in the fight against drug trafficking. We also denounce the role of firearms manufacturers which derive substantial profit from conflicts and which politically intervene in their courses…”
Carole Jacob, from the WMW in Haiti, shared these fraternal words rich in solidarity: “I am here to tell you that, in Haiti, the people are fighting against the occupation, against MINUSTAH and we support the Colombian people in standing up to militarization.”
The rally culminated with the women’s commitment to carry on, “on the march until we are all free.”
It is almost 10 at night. The members of the group are starting to return the site to “normality.” It has been a great day. We have reached our goal: Puerto Salgar was raided by peace.
Text based on the article written by Miriela Fernández (Martin Luther King Center/ WMW-Cuba). The full version is available on the website of the 2010 action.

Other suggested reading about Colombia:
Magazine ALAI n. 457 – Militarization and the patriarchy have a close relationship (only in Spanish)