The Colombian Refugee ProjectMennonite Church of QuitoPasaje Payamino y 6 de diciembre, N300Quito, Ecuador

June 29, 2015

Besem ObensonHead of Field Office SolandaAv. Amazonas 2889 y la GranjaUnited Nations Building, 1st. FloorQuito, Ecuador

Dear Besem Obsenson, Head of Field Office Solanda:

The Refugee Project of the Mennonite Churchproposes supporting a refugee-led initiative to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) by offering a series of workshops facilitated by representatives of the Nansen Award winning Red Mariposas, a group of courageous women supporting survivors of SGBV and displacement in Buenaventura, Colombia.

Given the mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide protection and support to refugees, we hope that you will consider supporting this initiative. Our proposal draws inspiration and guidance from the UNHCR-sponsored event Days of Inter-institutional Holistic Attention to Survivors of Sexual Violence held in Lago Agrio in November, 2014, to which representatives of the Mariposaswere invited to speak and lead workshops with professionals on the identification and response to cases of SGBV.1

1. Purpose

UNHCR Representative John Fredrikson states: “Refugees, stateless persons and internally displaced persons all over the world suffer from sexual and gender-based violence, not only as a form of persecution in conflict, but also during flight and displacement, and thus are doubly victimized.”2 Double-victimization is anappalling reality for many Colombian women for whom SGBV is both the cause and the consequence of being forcibly displaced.A majority of Colombian women in Ecuador with refugee status or in need of international protection (PNIP) have experienced sexual

1“Las Mariposas participan en las jornadas sobre violencia sexual en Lago Agrio,” UNHCR, accessed May 30, 2015, http://www.acnur.org/t3/noticias/noticia/ecuador-las-mariposas-participan-en-las-jornadas-sobre-violencia-sexual-en-lago-agrio/2“Las Mariposas participan en las jornadas sobre violencia sexual en Lago Agrio,” my translation.

1

violence in some form or another both in Colombia and in Ecuador.3They escape a context of violence only to find themselves in another where different perpetrators victimize them.4

The statistics on violence against women on both sides of the Colombia-Ecuador border are staggering. In Colombia, women account for 83% of the total number of victims of crimes against sexual integrity.5In Ecuador, 60% of women have suffered from some form of sexual violence.6This national average, if disaggregated by ethnic identity, reveals an even higher rate of violence experienced by Afro-Ecuadorian and indigenous women, 66.7% and 67.8% respectively.7Looking more closely at the refugee population in Ecuador, of the roughly 55,000 registered Colombian refugees, about half are women heads of households who struggle to support their families, encounter barriers to accessing asylum, and find it challenging to gain employment,all of which places them in particularly vulnerable situations and exposes them toexploitation and discrimination.8

In addition to the many challenges women face,they also meet critical obstacles to accessing justice. Refugee women and PNIP survivors of SGBV express that they do not want to press charges or access justice through the Ecuadorian judicial system because of their immigration status.9A lack of confidence in state institutions is a significant factor in addressing SGBV. 32% ofrefugees and migrants residing in Quito, Lago Agrio and Esmeraldasexpress having no trust in the police (compared to 15.9% who say they have a lot of trust) and 21.9% express having no trust in the courts (as opposed to 2.7% who express having a lot of trust).10Furthermore, stigmatization and avoidance of retaliation from the perpetrator, serve as deterrents to seeking legal redress.

3Gal, Amandine. Escrito en el Cuerpo: Rompiendo el Silencio y Construyendo Justicia Integral (Quito, Ecuador: Asylum Access Ecuador, 2012), 8.4 Ortega, Carlos Ernesto y Ospina, Oscar Raúl, Coordinators. “No se puede ser refugiado toda la vida…” Refugiados colombianos y colombianas en Quito y Guayaquil (Quito, Ecuador: FLACSO, 2012), 210.5 “Informe Delitos contra la integridad y la libertad sexual de las mujeres en el marco del conflicto armado colombiano,” Red Nacional de Información, accessed June 26, 2015, http://rni.unidadvictimas.gov.co/sites/default/files/Documentos/Informe%20violencia%20sexual%20mujeres.pdf6 “Violencia de Género,” Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos, accessed June 1, 2015, http://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/violencia-de-genero/7 “Violencía de Género.”8 “The dilemma that faces some female Colombian refugees,” UNHCR, accessed June 1, 2015, http://www.unhcr.org/53738c839.html9 Gal, Escrito en el Cuerpo: Rompiendo el Silencio y Construyendo Justicia Integral, 14.10Pugh, Jeffrey D. Resumen Ejecutivo de resultados de la encuesta elaborado por CEMPROC: Redes de Migrantes y Refugiados en Ecuador: Un Estudio de Quito, Lago Agrio, y Esmeraldas (Quito, Ecuador: CEMPROC, June 2014), 12.

2

The tragic reality of SGBV demands an urgent, coordinated response involving various stakeholders, including refugees and Ecuadorians themselves.

The purpose of our proposal is to strengthen existing networks of women with refugee status, asylum-seekers, and Ecuadorians, by training and supporting them to serve as volunteer activists within their communities to prevent SGBV, accompany survivors, advocate constructively for their rights, and assist in accessing appropriate medical, psycho-social, humanitarian and legal assistance.

2. Theories of Change

Training and workshops can create the space and opportunity for the participants to take what they learn and apply it to their own experiences and context to form a resilient community of volunteer women providing one another with mutual support in addressing SGBV. The Mariposas, with their profoundly personal experiences living within the Colombian armed conflict and direct knowledge of the culture and dynamics of their context11, are best-suited to facilitate these workshops to transfer their knowledge, share their expertise, and provide technical assistance on how to organize themselves and collaborate with state institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Because of common experiences and shared identities, the Mariposas and the participants can build quickly trust and confidence in the workshops in a short amount of time. As a recently arrived refugee from Buenaventura informed the coordinators of the Refugee Project of the Mennonite Church: “I know the Mariposas personally and the important work they do.”12

Women in vulnerable situations are also strategically positioned within their communities to learn about and recognize cases of SGBV, provide support to survivors, and accompany them to access appropriate services. The Mariposas, for example, employ the strategy of “comadreo” (i.e. informal networks of communication by word-of-mouth) as a collective response to the gaps in protection in the context in which they live and work. Through trusted channels of communication, a network of trained women can respond quickly and increase resilience when there are acts of SGBV, and perhaps even detect early-warning signs that could lead to prevention. Serving as a rapid response team, awomen’s network can help victims access appropriate medical care in a timely manner and be informed about the proper procedures for evidence collection. Through continued accompaniment, they can also encourage and support victims if they decide to seek justice.

Receiving instruction in legal and human rights, training in accompaniment, and guidance on forming and sustaining a resilient network of peers, will legitimize the

11 Carrillo, Ángela. Buenaventura, Colombia: Brutal Realities (Bogotá, Colombia: Norwegian Refugee Council, September 2014), 16.12Personal interview, March 12, 2015.

3

participants to assume leadership roles and serve as vital points of reference within their communities.

3. Project DescriptionOur proposal consists of three activities that serve the main purpose of supporting and strengthening networks of mutually supported peers addressing the problem of SGBV:

3.1 Peer-led workshops

Two to three representatives of the Mariposaswill facilitate an intensive, two-day workshop in November 2015, with twenty to thirty participants to transfer knowledge and expertise in the formation and sustained continuation of grass roots networks of women working for the defense of human (women’s) rights and the eradication of SGBV within the refugee population and wider society.

The Mariposas can serve as a catalyst to animate the participants to organize themselves into a network of volunteer activists to accompany SGBV survivors, with a central output of the workshops being the development of an action plan with detailed next steps toward forming a women’s led network.

3.2 Inter-institutional meeting

At the conclusion of the workshops, theworkshop participants will meet with representatives of the various organizations to report their action plans and find concrete ways to strengthen networks with organizations. The following is a preliminary list of organizations to be invited to attend the inter-institutional meeting:

Grass roots Faith-based Organizations

Non-State State

o La Red Mariposas

o Refugee Project, Mennonite Church

o Misión Scalabriniani

o Jesuit Refugee Services

o Caritaso Catholic Relief

Services

o UNHCRo UNIFEMo Asylum

Accesso HIASo RETo Fundación

Casa de Refugio Matilde

o Defensoría del Pueblo

o Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo (INES)

o Law enforcement

Possible outputs for this activity may be:

o The formation of a regularly meeting inter-institutional board where all entities,

including the women’s network, tasked with protection and assistance can discuss cases that emerge from the women’s network, make appropriate referrals, and strengthen the capacity of institutions to address SGBV.

4

o The publication and distribution of a brochure modeled on the Ruta de Vida y

atención en Violencias de Género13 that illustrates all the medical, legal and humanitarian agencies to which victims of gender-based sexual violence have a right to access.

3.3 Public Conference on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

As a culmination to workshops and the inter-institutional meeting, we propose holding a public conference at FLACSO Quito on the next occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women—November 25th, 2015—to increase visibility of the problem of SGBV in Ecuador, highlight existing mechanisms in the identification, attention and protection of survivors, and strengthen networks between grass roots, faith-based, non-state and state actors.

An output of this activity would be to ensure wide turnout to the conference to disseminate information to the public about the problem and responses to SGBV.

4. Methodology4.1 Peer-led workshops

Asylum Access Ecuador and Misión Scalabriniani jointly support this proposal, which seeks to build on their considerable experience supporting the organization of women’s groups that continue to meet regularly in their respective spaces.Representatives from both organizations express that this proposed initiative would be well received by their women’s groups.14 The Refugee Project of the Mennonite Church has also identified potential participants.

Given that six out of ten women in Ecuador report experiencing some form of sexual violence15, we will also invite Ecuadorian women to participate in the workshops by reaching out to local women’s organizations, such as Fundación Casa de Refugio Matilde. Involving both Ecuadorians and refugees has the added benefits of facilitating the integration of refugees into Ecuadorian society, fostering positive, meaningful relationships between the two groups, and increasing the stability and sustainability of a peer network.

Asylum Access Ecuador will also offer meeting spaces for the proposed workshops.

4.2 Inter-institutional meeting

The Mennonite Church is available and willing to host the inter-institutional meeting.

13“Ruta de Vida y atención en Violencias de Género,” Red Mariposas, accessed March 23, 2015, http://www.redmariposas.com/files/6014/1048/9821/Ruta_de_Vida.pdf14Personal interview with Asylum Access, June 10, 2015 and personal interview with Misión Scalabriniani, June 22, 201515“Violencia de Género.”

5

4.3 Public Conference on the International Day Against Violence Against Women

Asylum Access is currently pursing a connection with faculty at FLACSO to explore the possibility of holding the conference on their campus. To publicize the event, the Refugee Project of the Mennonite Church will produce and distribute flyers, send personal invitations, post the event on websites such as www.1800refugio.org.ec and advertise on the air with Radio HCJB.

5. Support Needed & Costs

To bring this proposal to fruition, we kindly request the financial support of ACNUR to assist with the costs to cover flights, room and board for two to three representatives of the Mariposas.

The following is the proposed budget:

Item Requested Amount Unit Price TotalRound trip tickets from Cali, Colombia, to Quito, Ecuador

2-3 $450 $900 - $1,350

Room & Board $80.00 per person for max. 5 days.

$400 $800 - $1,200

Sum total:

$1,700 - $2,550

6. Conclusion

We believe that this initiative will be of significant benefit to Ecuadorian, refugee and asylum-seeking women and encourage them in the formation of a network of peers volunteering within their communities to prevent SGBV, accompany survivors, advocate constructively for their rights, and assist in accessing services and assistance. This initiative will also be of benefit to the Mariposas, as it draws greater attention to their crucial work and affords them the opportunity to understand better the reality of Colombians in Ecuador. Broadly speaking, connecting grassroots peace organizations, like the Mariposas, with Ecuadorians and refugees animated to work peacefully for justice, strengthens civil society in both countries and contributes to the important work of peace and human security in the region.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and I look forward to the opportunity to receive your feedback and further a conversation about the possibility of implementing this proposal.

6

Sincerely,

David Sulewski, Coordinator

The Colombian Refugee ProjectMennonite Church of QuitoPasaje Payamino y 6 de diciembre, N300Quito, EcuadorTel. 02-2273777colombianrefugeeproject@gmail.com

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

7

Carrillo, Ángela. Buenaventura, Colombia: Brutal Realities. Bogotá, Colombia: Norwegian Refugee Council, September 2014.

Gal, Amandine. Escrito en el Cuerpo: Rompiendo el Silencio y Construyendo Justicia Integral. Quito, Ecuador: Asylum Access Ecuador, 2012

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. “Violencia de Género.” Accessed June 1, 2015. http://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/violencia-de-genero/

Ortega, Carlos Ernesto y Ospina, Oscar Raúl, Coordinators. “No se puede ser refugiado toda la vida…” Refugiados colombianos y colombianas en Quito y Guayaquil. Quito, Ecuador: FLACSO, 2012.

Pugh, Jeffrey D. Resumen Ejecutivo de resultados de la encuesta elaborado por CEMPROC: Redes de Migrantes y Refugiados en Ecuador: Un Estudio de Quito, Lago Agrio, y Esmeraldas. Quito, Ecuador: CEMPROC, June 2014.

Red Mariposas. “Ruta de Vida y atención en Violencias de Género.” Accessed March 23, 2015. http://www.redmariposas.com/files/6014/1048/9821/Ruta_de_Vida.pdf

Red Nacional de Información. “Informe Delitos contra la integridad y la libertad sexual de las mujeres en el marco del conflicto armado colombiano.” Accessed June 26, 2015.http://rni.unidadvictimas.gov.co/sites/default/files/Documentos/Informe%20violencia%20sexual%20mujeres.pdf

UNHCR. “Las Mariposas participan en las jornadas sobre violencia sexual en Lago Agrio.” Accessed May 30, 2015. http://www.acnur.org/t3/noticias/noticia/ecuador-las-mariposas-participan-en-las-jornadas-sobre-violencia-sexual-en-lago-agrio/

UNHCR. “The dilemma that faces some female Colombian refugees.”Accessed June 1, 2015. http://www.unhcr.org/53738c839.html

8

9