Reflections From My Visit to Colombia

Heather Gerken poses next to Javier Ciurlizza and 11 other Ford Foundation team members on a terrace with scenic mountains in the background. Colorful floral arrangements frame the scene.

While the Ford Foundation has worked across the Andean Region for more than six decades, we reopened our Bogotá office 10 years ago following the signing of the Colombia Peace Accords. During my recent visit to our regional office in Bogotá, I met remarkable grantees and partners who have strengthened civic space and advanced climate justice over the past decade. Thank you to our regional director, Javier Ciurlizza, and his entire team for an inspiring and memorable visit.

Building Peace

It was an honor to visit the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and meet with Vice President of the Court José Miller Hormiga and the Magistrate Catalina Díaz. Ten years after the signing of the 2016 peace agreement, the court continues to address the violence that shook the conscience of the nation.

Posing in front of framed photos, Heather Gerken stands with a group of five others who wear business attire and one in traditional clothing, smiling.

Advancing Gender Equality 

I sat down with a group of remarkable Indigenous and Afro-descendant women from Colombia and Peru. They are working to ensure women in their communities can live free from violence and hold a seat at the table where decisions about their lands, lives, and livelihoods are made.

A group of people sitting in chairs indoors, engaging in a thread art activity. The person in the center wears a traditional hat and colorful attire. They are working with threads connected among them. The setting includes glass walls and potted plants.
Heather Gerken, at the center of a group of people stands on a rooftop terrace with two large floral arrangements on either side. In the background are mountain peaks and a cityscape.

Rights of the River

In March 2024, the Superior Court of Justice of Loreto, Peru, recognized the Marañón River as a subject of rights, granting it legal personhood to exist, flow, and remain free from contamination. The ruling built on a precedent set in Colombia in 2016, when the Constitutional Court recognized the Atrato River as a subject of rights. I sat down with some of the legal experts and Indigenous leaders involved in these cases to better understand how securing the rights of nature supports communities and the ecosystems they depend on.

Heather Gerken at the center of a group of people standing in front of a projection screen displaying a sunset river scene. They are posed in a row, smiling at the camera. The setting is a meeting room.

Peace and Reconciliation

I was deeply moved by my visit to the Center of Memory, Peace, and Reconciliation in Bogota, Colombia—a space to honor the millions of victims of the country’s internal armed conflict.

Heather Gerken and Javier Ciurlizza walk along a path in front of the Centro de Memoria, Paz y Reconciliación building. They appear engaged in conversation, exuding a professional and friendly tone.
Heather Gerken and an individual are observing an exhibition display with text about events from March 1976 at the Center of Memory, Peace, and Reconciliation. The setting appears to be an indoor gallery with high ceilings and narrow windows. One person gestures towards the exhibit. The focus is educational and historical, serving as a space to honor the millions of victims of the country's internal armed conflict.

I heard the stories of social justice leaders who are looking back at their country’s history with honesty, while looking forward with hope. 

Standing in an atrium with glass walls, Heather Gerken poses with a diverse group of ten other people. The atmosphere is professional and friendly, conveying unity.

Powerful Partnership

It was wonderful to connect with Ford Foundation Trustee Paula Moreno, as well as with our partners across the business sector, academia, philanthropy, and development.

Heather Gerken and Javier Ciurlizza pose with Paula Moreno in a warmly lit room. A large screen behind them displays a scenic coastal landscape. They appear poised and professional, conveying a formal yet friendly tone.
Four people are conversing at an indoor event. One man is smiling, wearing a purple shirt and glasses. The setting is warm and social.