Last week, Bogota hosted two major global events: the World Forum of Citiesand Territories of Peace, and the Women Deliver Americas 2023 Conference, focusing on topics such as equity, sustainable peace, gender equality, and the rights of girls and women, with a caregiving city approach.
Mayor Claudia López led the Forum alongside important international guests to discuss issues of care, equality, equity, and sustainability, highlighting the significant work of the Calma Hotline in providing support to men in the city.
According to Catalina Valencia, Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sports, "this was a wonderful opportunity to learn about different practices carried out in other cities, in addition to the importance of Bogota's role as the protagonist of these two highly significant events. On this occasion, we were able to showcase our cultural projects as a transformative tool for peace, as well as the talent of our urban artists who painted a beautiful mural, and of course, our commitment to making Bogota a caregiving city through our Care System."
Contenidos relacionados
Similarly, during the Women Deliver Americas 2023 Conference, the Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sports had the opportunity to participate in the panel discussion titled "Can a City Reimagine Itself Around Care?" We showcased Bogota's inclusive and transformative gender policy, which focuses on three main areas: gender equality, prevention and addressing gender-based violence, and the political and social participation of women.
At the heart of this policy has been the visibility and response to the importance of care economies, through strategies such as the "A cuidar se aprende" (Learning to Care) program, in which hundreds of men have unlearned sexist practices. The Calma Hotline, a telephone helpline where over 15,000 men have sought help to address their emotions, has also played a crucial role.
Additionally, the "Overcoming the Naturalization of Violence: Strategies for Cultural Change" laboratory was conducted, addressing topics such as public policies to support and address trauma, gender-based violence, reproductive and sexual rights, human rights, social justice, new pedagogies, and new narratives.
These globally recognized platforms provided an opportunity to propose solutions and institutional and social tools that contribute to the construction of sustainable peace in cities, territories, and communities, as well as to catalyze collective action for gender equality.
During the World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace, the Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sports (SCRD) participated in the laboratory titled "How to Generate Citizen Practices that Empower Individuals through Recognition and Memory?" The project "Cultural Transformations for Peace" was highlighted, presenting pathways to transform spaces considered conflict-ridden through a social, cultural, and, above all, community and collective perspective.
Through this project, the co-creation of territorial development proposals has been achieved in 11 districts of the city, involving approximately 30 organizations, networks, and cultural collectives led by victims of armed conflict, signatories of the peace agreement, and the Emberá indigenous community.
Furthermore, the audience had the opportunity to watch the documentary "Cuando las aguas se juntan" (When the waters flow as One) at the Cinemateca of Bogotá. The film tells the story of a group of women who have experienced the ravages of war but dare to build peace.
Culture as the Axis of Peace and Equality
During the Forum, various activities took place, including a tour of the Care Block in the Lourdes neighborhood, where urban artists Juan Villamil (Juan sin miedo) and Nataly Foglia (Mona Prisma) painted a mural as part of the Responsible Urban Art strategy of the SCRD. In the mural, they combined their interpretation of a Caring Bogota, featuring two "copetones," which are iconic birds of the city.
Furthermore, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy performances by the choir "Hijos e Hijas de la paz" (Children of Peace), integrated by children and adolescents who are the sons and daughters of signatories of the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the former FARC guerrilla. There was also a concert by the Bogota's Women Philharmonic Orchestra.
