Columns & Blogs

This year there were several signs of the deep animosity of traditional political power towards victims and social leaders. The eradication of violence from the political spectrum will only occur with the public's political participation. Not only with the vote, but starting with the vote.

In Colombia, although the intelligence law prohibits telephone tapping since 2013, an wrong interpretation would seem to force providers, such as WhatsApp or Telegram, to provide "any other information that contributes" to the user's location.

When governments are seeking to reduce poverty based on discrimination and increase rights protection, policies must also aim to reduce discrimination due to historical factors. The latter has created the very own elements that facilitate the impoverishment of various social groups.

The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing the decree that creates the Truth Commission for the implementation of the Peace Agreement. Dejusticia presented an intervention supporting the constitutionality of the decree, with the condition that the participation of various social sectors in future steps is guaranteed.

Human beings tend to chat and debate with those who think and feel similarly. These conversations between peers are pleasant but are often unproductive because they reinforce our prejudices.

It is not language that is to blame, but the culture behind language. Words, says Rosa Montero, are like the skin of the social body: they reflect the movement of that body. If that movement is changed, the words change their meaning.

Last week, two young students resolved a seemingly unimportant dispute with arms. Hopefully the collective mourning for these two boys, their families, and for society itself serves to recognize the marked setback in educational policy, a product, among other reasons, of Ministry of Education's politicization.

Recognizing the visceral roots of political opinions should lead to less unequivocal, less moralistic judgments, on the opposite 50%.

The solutions to combat climate change are closer than you think. There are small, everyday actions that citizens can contribute to, starting from something as simple as being more aware of what we serve on our plates.

Not adopting a tax on sugary drinks as an initial step for a more comprehensive health strategy is tantamount to saying a few years ago that the seat belt should not be mandatory since the problem of traffic accidents is too complex and requires more comprehensive measures.

The first conclusion is that minimalist peace is the only possible peace with the State and the political class that we currently have. Robust peace will only be viable with changes in power and the political system, driven by civil society, movements and parties, beginning with parliamentary and presidential elections next year.

The 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and FARC includes explicit aims to improve democratic participation and protect the right to protest. But how are these goals being threatened?