The National Women’s Coordinator – Or National Women’s Convener (CONAMU), conformed by a variety of civil society women-led organizations, former female combatant organizations, and rural women organizations met in Bogota for a three-day national convention from Wednesday, September 28th to Friday, September 30th.
 

CONAMU aims to become a National Platform for women’s rights, by seeking local representation and inciting at local, regional, and national levels to jointly undertake effective actions towards a comprehensive and integral implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. The three-day convention had the participation of over 60 women from different rural and regional territories; Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia; Bibiana Aido, UN Women director in Colombia; the Labor Minister Gloria Inés Ramírez Ríos, as well as Gloria Cuartas, new government lead responsible for the implementation of the Peace Agreement. 
 

The Labor Minister stated the importance of creating opportunities for employability, specifically targeted at women considering care sensitivities. The International Labor Organization (ILO) participated in the agenda by conducting a National Development Plan workshop to socialize the new Government’s methodology for the regional dialogues to take place later this month, as well as key action points to be considered in National Development Plans in the regions to be led by women leaders and aimed to integral implementation of the Peace Accord at all levels.
 

The convention ended with an exchange between CONAMU and new Government representatives, as well as diplomatic representatives of several different Embassies, including Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Ireland, among others. During the closure, CONAMU was also able to manifest the platform's needs and action plan in reference to the comprehensive implementation of the gender actions referred to in the Final Peace Agreement.

By: Cristina Quiróz
Verification Officer - Reintegration Unit 
UN Verification Mission in Colombia 

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