The seminar —headed by David Bondia, professor of International Law and International Relations at the UB, and Antonio Jiménez, coordinator of the Observatory of Conflicts and Human Rights of the FSUB— aims at offering a discussion corner and an opportunity for academic reflection on the concept of interculturality, the different problems and challenges that face the Afro-Colombian and Indian people who live in the South-West of Colombia and, in general, on human rights and the peace process started in Colombia.
The first session takes places today, Monday 10th December, in the Paranymph Hall of the Historic Building, and it will be broadcast live through the video portal
UBTV. The session will be opened by Heidi Abuchaibe, professor at the Externado University in Colombia and programme coordinator of the Baltasar Garzón International Foundation in Colombia, who will give the lecture “Impunidad vs. maximalismo punitivo. Los límites de la justicia en las transiciones latinoamericanas” (5 p.m.). Then, it will take place a discussion between the ex-magistrate Baltasar Garzón and Manuel Ramiro Muñoz, head of the Centre for Intercultural Studies of PUJC, about peacebuilding and human rights (5.45 p.m.). Finally, at 7.15 p.m., the opening ceremony of the seminar will happen, chaired by the acting vice-rector for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Dr Lourdes Cirlot, accompanied by Dr David Bondia (UB) and Mr Manuel Ramiro Muñoz (PUJC). A recital will close the session, played by Manuel González, one of the best worldwide classical guitar players.
This activity is supported by the Baltasar Garzón International Foundation, the University of Cartagena, Caves Oriol Rossell and Poema SL.
Speakers of high professional level
The sessions of 11th and 12th December will take place in the aula capella of the Historic Building. Several lectures dealing with the impunity and the limits of justice during Latin American transitions, the foreign investment in Colombia, the models of economic development and territory and culture, among other topics, are programmed.
Professors and researchers from the UB and some Colombian universities and some experts in interculturality and human rights management will participate in these sessions: the heads of the seminar David Bondia and Antonio Jiménez; Francisco Javier Laviña, professor of American History at the UB; Xavier Latorre, economist specialized in International development cooperation and adviser at FSUB; Jorge Robledo, Colombian senator and professor at the National University of Colombia; Lewis León, professor and researcher at the University of Cartagena; and the PUJC professors Tania Rodríguez and Myriam Román.
The seminar goes beyond national borders and deals with the international cooperation framework that it aims at building, taking as a departure point the opinions and proposals to contribute to the peacebuilding process started in Colombia.
Four years of inter-university development cooperation
This seminar closes the inter-university development cooperation project started four years ago by the UB, the UB Solidarity Foundation and the Javeriana University in Cali, and funded by the AECID. This project has been coordinated by David Bondia (UB), together with Antonio Jiménez and Xavier López (FSUB). Interculturality, human rights, international law and peace education are some of the topics on which the cooperation work developed during these years has been focused.
Thanks to this project, it has been able to create the
Centre for Intercultural Studies (CEI) at the PUJC, a place of education and support to Indian and Afro- Colombian communities, the most vulnerable ones in Colombian society. This year, the CEI has been nominated for the Colombian National Peace Prize.
