JFC host successful visit of Colombian activists to UK

Two of Colombia’s leading trade union and human rights activists, Gustavo Rengifo and Deivin Hurtado, have just completed a high-profile visit to the United Kingdom to speak about the threats facing political activists in Colombia. On the three-week tour, which was organised by Justice for Colombia, trade unions and politicians in the UK, the activists met with MPs, British government representatives, trade union leaders, the Colombian community in the UK and journalists, to discuss the recent worrying spike in violence against activists in Colombia and how the international community can help achieve peace in the country. The visit was sponsored by UNISON, Unite and

Thompsons Solicitors.
The tour started with a meeting in the British Parliament on 12^th April, chaired by Ian Lavery MP, Chair of the Trade Union Group and Vice Chair Parliamentary Friends of Colombia. At the event, which was attended by around 40 MPs, trade unionists and members of the general public, JFC released a briefing Silenced: The Murder of Political Activists in Colombia, which details the horrifying statistic that 534 political activists have been murdered in the last five years in Colombia. The Colombian activists were also guests at a lunch in Parliament where they met with Diana Johnson MP and Shadow FCO Minister, Clive Lewis MP, Rob Flello MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Colombia and the general secretaries of ASLEF, Mick Whelan, the NUT, Christine Blower and the UCU, Sally Hunt.
In London, the Colombian activists also met with the FCO to discuss the specific threats against Gustavo Rengifo, who has been in hiding since he was tortured and threatened in May 2015. They held meetings with MPs from the SNP and Sinn Féin, with trade unionists from UNISON, Unite, the NUT and ASLEF and addressed the Colombian community in London at a special event organised with the London branch of the Patriotic March and Unite.
In Scotland the Colombian activists were invited to the Scottish Trades Union Congress’ annual conference in Dundee, where they received a standing ovation after addressing Congress. They discussed the human rights situation in Colombia at a fringe event and also met with delegates to STUC from Unite and UNISON.
In Belfast Gustavo and Deivin spoke at a public event organised by the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions with Unite, UNISON and NIPSA. They were also special guests at the Centenary dinner of the Unite 1916 branch, where members declared their overwhelming support.
In Manchester and Liverpool the Colombian visitors held meetings with the regional committees of UNISON and Unite and, on the last leg of the tour, visited Cardiff where they addressed a public meeting organised by UNISON.

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