On June 7-9, 2022, five high-level members of the Ethnic Commission for Peace and the Defense of Territorial Rights (the Ethnic Commission), the Afro-Colombian National Peace Council (Conpa) and the High Level Special Body with Ethnic Peoples (Instancia Especial de Alto Nivel con Pueblos Etnicos - IEANPE) will be traveling to Ottawa to meet with Canadian civil society organizations, Members of Parliament and Senators.

Their mission is to raise visibility of the "Ethnic Chapter" of the 2016 Colombian Peace Accord, a peace agreement that has been significantly financed by the Canadian government and now in its implementation phase.

Despite the inclusion of a special section of the Accord that recognizes the political-territorial rights, perspectives and special status of Indigenous and Black communities as "protected people" known as the Ethnic Chapter, the reality is that Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continue to be the target of dramatic violence including assassination of leaders, forced displacement and ongoing territorial conflicts among armed groups, generating a humanitarian crisis in some regions. There is an ongoing risk that urgently requires a strong and more committed global response from countries like Canada, including government and civil society organizations.

Goals of the delegation include:
1. Provide an update on the situation facing Indigenous/Black communities and women in conflict-affected regions in Colombia
2. Present on key aspects and challenges related to peace building and the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter in particular
3. Build support and networks for addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting ethnic communities

Members of the delegation include Armando Valbuena (Secretary of ONIC - National Indigenous Organization of Colombia and the IEANPE), Charo Mina Rojas co-writer and spokesperson of the Ethnic Chapter, member of the PCN-Black Communities Process and Conpa; Yobana Bustos, member of Kambiri AfroColombian Women's Network and Conpa; Helmer Quinones, Ethnic Commission for Peace and Defense of Territorial Rights, Conpa (Afro-Colombian National Peace Council) and coordinator of the advisory team of the High Level Special Instance with the Ethnic Peoples (IEANPE) Albeniz Tique, Pijao Indigenous person and National Representative of AISO (Indigenous Association of the South East). Yobana Bustos and Albeniz Tique are also lead spokeswomen for "Mujeres volviendo a la Raiz" (Women Returning to the Roots) of the Ethnic Commission. Many of the delegates were involved in the writing and inclusion of the Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Accords and all are active members of the Ethnic Commission for Peace and Defense of Territorial Rights.