Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos announced Tuesday that two women will be joining negotiators for the government in ongoing peace talks with the country’s largest rebel group the FARC in Havana, Cuba.
The two women named were Maria Paulina Riveros, a lawyer and human rights advocate, and Nigeria Renteria, currently the High Presidential Adviser on Women’s Equality.
“The women, like all of the negotiators, are named – for more than represent a particular groups – for their merits and positive support that they give the process, as I am sure will occur,” said President Juan Manuel Santos.
For Riveros, Santos praised her work in humans rights, working to substitute illicit cultivation, and on victims, land issues surrounding the armed conflict.
Santos said Renteria would be responsible for coordinating with victims groups in Bogota and ensuring representation of their concerns in Havana, Cuba.
“Renteria will be coming and going from Bogota to create an appropriate channel of communication with women’s organizations that have so much to offer, for among other reasons, more than half the victims are women,” said Santos.
In conclusion President Santos extended a “welcome” and reiterated his support for the negotiators attempt “to end the conflict and reach peace.”
Sources
- Presidente Santos nombra a dos mujeres en la mesa de negociación de La Habana (President press release)
- Dos mujeres reforzarán equipo de Gobierno en La Habana (El Espectador)