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Exhibition and conversation with the Quilters of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, in collaboration with Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the OAS and the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, hosted The Quilters of Mampuján.

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On October 24, 2024, the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, in collaboration with Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the OAS and the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, hosted The Quilters of Mampuján, a group of Afro-Colombian women whose dedication to community healing and peacebuilding has become an emblem of resilience and justice. This event coincides with the 24th anniversary of the landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and follows the recent Colombia-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding, underscoring the essential role women play in peacebuilding and post-conflict reconciliation.

Official flyerMagnify Photo
Official flyer

 

About the Event

The gathering opened with Welcome Remarks from:

  • Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
  • Andrea Alarcón, Charge d’Affaires of Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the OAS
  • Andrés González, Former Ambassador of Colombia to the OAS and Visiting Scholar-in-Residence, WCL
From left to right, Andrea Lloreda, Counselor of Foreign Relations, Embassy of Colombia to the USA; Andrea Alarcón, Charge D’Affairs Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the OAS; Diego Rodríguez Pinzon, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights; Andrés González, Visiting Scholar-in-Residence and Former Ambassador of Colombia to the OAS, and Adriana Buenaventura-Martínez, Senior Coordinator Academy of Human Rights.
From left to right, Andrea Lloreda, Andrea Alarcón, Diego Rodríguez Pinzon, Andrés González, and Adriana Buenaventura-Martínez

This was followed by a profound Dialogue moderated by Adriana Buenaventura-Martínez, Senior Coordinator at the Academy of Human Rights, with members of “La Asociación de Mujeres Tejiendo Sueños y Sabores de Paz de Mampuján”:

  • Juana Ruíz
  • Sarai Villareal
  • Alexandra Valdez
  • Elizabeth Villareal

Their work, recognized with the 2015 National Peace Prize, was highlighted as an example of using art for community resilience, reparation, and historical memory.

Exhibition of the work of the Weavers of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law
From left to right, Juana Ruíz, Alexandra Valdez, Adriana Buenaventura-Martínez, Elizabeth Villareal and Sarai Villareal.

The Closing Remarks from Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Peña of Colombia celebrated the powerful legacy of The Quilters and the broader significance of the WPS agenda.

Context:

Mampuján, a small village in María La Baja, Bolívar, lies in the Montes de María region, a historic site of Colombia’s conflict. In March 2000, paramilitary forces committed a massacre here, displacing over 300 families and leaving the village abandoned. However, The Quilters of Mampuján turned their experiences into art, using the traditional “patchwork” technique to narrate their history and help heal collective wounds. Their quilts document not only the traumas of violence but also the enduring strength and solidarity of their community.

Exhibition of the work of the Quilters of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law
Exhibition of the work of the Weavers of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law

Their initiative has extended beyond Mampuján; they lead workshops throughout Colombia, transforming grief into resilience and advocating for the rights of victims. The Quilters’ work, showcased nationally and internationally, serves as an enduring testament to the power of art in the fight for justice, collective memory, and peace.

Exhibition of the work of the Quilters of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law
Exhibition of the work of the Quilters of Mampuján at the Washington College of Law

The Academy of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law is proud to have co-hosted this transformative dialogue with The Quilters of Mampuján, whose experiences of collective healing through art and memory embody the commitment to justice and resilience that we promote. This event reinforces our mission to create spaces that honor the voices of victims and foster peace and reconciliation. We extend our gratitude to The Quilters of Mampuján, the Embassy of Colombia, and all attendees for joining this enriching experience and contributing to the strengthening of historical memory and the building of a peaceful future.

This event was made possible through the collaboration of Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the OAS, the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, and the special participation of The Women Sewers of Dreams and Flavours of Peace of Mampuján. Together, we honored the resilience and memory of communities impacted by conflict, highlighting the essential role of women in peacebuilding and post-conflict reconciliation.

  1. For further information on The Quilters of Mampuján and their work, please visit:

  2. 1. https://centrodememoriahistorica.gov.co/el-pueblo-que-sano-con-telares/

  3. 2. https://www.centrodememoriahistorica.gov.co/micrositios/recorridos-por-paisajes-de-la-violencia/montes-maria-montana.html
    3. https://rutasdelconflicto.com/pueblos-olvido/node/41
    4. Asociación Mujeres Tejiendo Sueños y Sabores de Paz, también llamadas Tejedoras de Mampuján: https://artesaniasdecolombia.com.co/Documentos/Contenido/41323_tejedoras_resena_historica.pdf