Colombia

Among Pact’s most important contributions in Colombia is our work to reduce child labor in mining, particularly in the coal and gold sectors. Our Somos Tesoro project, or "We are Treasure," funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, led the way in child labor reduction here for seven years. In addition to addressing health and safety issues in mining, Somos Tesoro helped communities to overcome the many factors that lead to child labor, including economic instability, challenges in implementing public policies favoring child protection, and a lack of quality education in rural mining areas. This work continued through the Pilares project, which increased the capacity of civil society to address child labor and promote better working conditions in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

Also in the area of labor rights, our Vamos Tejiendo project improved the economic participation of vulnerable women and adolescent girls in quality jobs within the agricultural sector, specifically the cut flower and unrefined sugar industries. Vamos Tejiendo engaged government, the private sector, and civil society organizations to improve labor practices and increase economic opportunities for vulnerable women and girls. 

Our other recent work has supported two important yet marginalized groups that are playing a key role in shaping Colombia’s future – Indigenous peoples and Venezuelan migrants. With funding from USAID, our Conectando Caminos por los Derechos project supported Colombia’s efforts to prevent and respond to human rights violations among Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees, and receptor communities, increasing community cohesion and citizen security. 

Also in partnership with USAID, Pact supported Indigenous people's organizations to increase their influence in the governance of the Amazon region, in order to protect Indigenous people's rights and the environment in the rainforest of Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Suriname, and Guyana.