Women from Putumayo won a human rights award for their work and protests rejecting violence in the south Colombian department, Colombian media reported Monday.
The organization ‘Weaver of Life’ which brings together nearly 300 leaders from this department received the Antonio Nariño prize Monday, from the German and French ambassadors to Colombia.
Weavers of Life also received a bronze statue by Nadin Ospina and a trip to Germany and France in which a representative of the organization will get to share their experiences with other human rights defenders.
The Antonio Nariño prize has been given by the ambassadors of Germany and France for the past two years to organizations which work for peace and defend human rights.
Putumayo suffers from violence at the hands of paramilitaries and the FARC, as well as poverty and intra-family violence. In Putumayo, 62% of people have lost on average two children to violence.
The organization took momentum in 2003 as women throughout the department united to protest violence, especially violence targeted toward women.
Gladys one of he women of the organization said “it is a very difficult job, but it is worth it. In a country like this and in a region like Putumayo there needs to be women who take control of defending their rights.”