MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS August 2016 What was done this month? number of projects by intermediate result visp by the numbers INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION number of PROJECTS BY STATUS Victims Institutional Strengthening Program (VISP) Provides accompaniment and technical support for the Government of Colombia’s (GoC) policies, systems, and institutions at the national, departmental, and municipal levels, to strengthen capacities and build necessary competencies for the timely and effective execution and implementation of the Victims Law. Monthly Highlights This report provides monthly institutional and Victims Law achievements supported by VISP at the national and local levels. PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS ATTENDS “VICTUS,” HAILS THEATRE FOR RECONCILIATION peacebuilding through art Documenting women’s resistance transferring psychosocial rehabilitation tools to the local level On August 16, President Juan Manuel Santos attended a presentation of the theatrical piece Victus, which brings together 20 ex-guerrillas, ex-paramilitaries, victims, and soldiers on stage to promote peacebuilding and reconciliation through art, based on their own personal struggles and journeys. CNN called the initiative a symbol of “hope and reconciliation,” in a video available here [in Spanish]: http://cnn.it/2bdk4Oj, and following Santos’ participation the initiative was highlighted by numerous national and international media agencies. The innovative process is led by the Casa Ensamble theatre company with support from the Colombian Agency for Reintegration, the Victims Unit, the military, USAID, and IOM. For the last several weeks, VISP worked with two universities in Nariño (Mariana University and CESMAG University Institute) to transfer the Care Toolbox and the Training Toolbox to professors who will replicate the material as part of their future courses. The materials in these toolboxes are important to ensure those who work with victims can prevent victimization, burn-out and provide high quality psychosocial attention. This project is part of “training trainers” strategies by VISP to ensure that materials developed by the program are broadly disseminated across the country. The CNMH captured three historical memory initiatives developed with female leaders (Las madres de la Candelaria, Mujeres sobrevivientes de la UP, and Mujeres Indígenas del Resguardo de Jambaló) in a new documentary with VISP support. The documentary Mujeres en resistencia (Women in resistance, in English), which is made up of three short documentaries on each initiative, was screened on August 22 at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. To learn more about the documentary, please click on the link here, http://bit.ly/2bJ5qOa. “Victus’ is an example for all Colombians,” said President Juan Manuel Santos at a presentation of the theatrical production in Bogotá on August 16 historical memory documentaries alliance with local universities disseminates psychosocial and care tools Government partners Governor’s and Mayor’s Offices 1 1 2 4 199 205 218 65 58 46 0 50 100 150 200 250 Jun/2016 Jul/2016 Aug/2016 In formulation Finalized Ongoing 67 33 63 55 14 13 10 9 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 IR1 IR2 IR3 IR4 Finalized Ongoing