Bienvenidos a Bogotá

Hola from Colombia! As part of the same project which Leila, Mary, and Shonali worked on in Liberia, we have travelled to Bogotá in order to research the witness protection programs in Colombia. There are four of us here: three clinic students – Nicolle, Farnoosh, and Priyan as well as Professor Kaye, the director of the clinic. We have several interesting meetings lined up and we are sure this will be a fruitful trip!

The three students left the humid air and white beaches of Cartagena for the bustling mile-high metropolis of Bogotá late Sunday night to meet Professor Kaye. In contrast to the laid back, beach town attitude of Cartagena we were greeted in Bogotá by a hoard of overzealous taxi drivers bidding for our business. After some unsettling confusion we picked a driver and we were off. We drove by a walled compound which our taxi driver pointed out as the American Embassy or the “bunker” as he referred to it. The driver started asking us questions about our trip. We knew Bogotá was safe for Americans now, but nevertheless we were told to constantly be alert while travelling in Bogotá and since the roads were desolate at that time of night and I started to feel a bit apprehensive.

Our driver kept asking us probing questions and I found myself bending the truth to try and make us seem less vulnerable. As I answered the driver’s questions, I couldn’t help but reflect on our project. If I was feeling uncomfortable in this relatively safe situation, how could we even begin to comprehend how vulnerable victims of sexual violence and armed conflict must feel when seeking the benefits of a witnesses program? This was one of the many difficult questions we have had to ask people as we conduct interviews this week.

Don’t worry, we arrived safely at the hotel and as our driver graciously wished us good luck on our trip with a big grin on his face I realized all of that tension I felt was in my head. After a few hours of sleep we met with Professor Kaye and our journey began. We have already met with some inspiring individuals and have several more exciting interviews to come. We will keep you updated as the week progresses!

A great trip.

Well, we are back in the states from a great trip to Liberia. We met with NGO workers who tirelessly fight for the rights of women and girls who have been abused. We met with a prosecutor who works hard to ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve. We met with individuals who work on rebuilding Liberia as it is in a transitional stage. We spoke with a woman who is on the Law Reform Commission, attempting to change the laws that are not in alignment with International Law and not in accord with human rights. We interviewed the Judge for the Rape Court (Court E) who spoke of the progress of the court and the obstacles they face.

We also just took time to see the surrounding area around Monrovia in order to understand the context of the situation. We had casual conversations with Liberians in the country and on the plane about the war, post-war, and their thoughts on the efforts to protect women.
We met some truly remarkable individuals who against all odds, keep going and keep fighting.

The trip really opened my (**Mary**) eyes to how International Law and Human Rights Law work in a country like Liberia. I spoke with inviduals who still hope that faction leaders and generals who orchestrated the war and the brutal rape that took place during the war will be held accountable for their crimes against humanity. I hope so too. Liberia seems to be moving into a moment where more and more people understand what rape is, how horrible it is, and how serious of a crime it is. The fact that reporting of sexual violence has increased is in itself progress. The Rape Court is progress. The few safe homes - progress. The GBV Unit - progress. The Women and Children's Protection Units - progress. And, this is how you go on, I believe. You keep fighting for the protection of women and children by looking at the progress that has taken place and hoping for more. I would love to visit Liberia again in a few years and see the progress that has been made. It is a beautiful country, with beautiful people. But, it is a country that has been torn apart with violence and that is still filled with post-war violence against women and children.
I believe the efforts of the people we met with and countless more in the international community to restore rule of law in Liberia will not be in vain. No matter how slow it is or how long the process takes - it is and will be worth it because we are dealing with countless lives of women and children- that's what is on the line.