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Human displacement poses immense challenges to individuals, regions, and nations as conflict, violence, authoritarianism, climate, and other factors compel populations to move.
Throughout its history, Colombians have been displaced or have migrated to neighboring countries to escape the country’s own internal armed conflict. Today, Colombia hosts the largest number of Venezuelans of any country in the world— over 2 million out of a total of more than 6 million who have fled Venezuela’s authoritarian rule and economic and humanitarian collapse. In February 2021, President Ivan Duque decided to grant temporary protected status for Venezuelans. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi described the bold move as “historic,” “a humanitarian gesture of an unprecedented scale.” Last month, Colombia also agreed to shelter 4,000 refugees from Afghanistan to respond to the humanitarian situation in that country.
What can the international community learn from Colombia with respect to the treatment of migrants? Is the international community doing enough to support Colombia and other Latin American countries with large populations of Venezuelans? How can the United States and Colombia deepen their collaboration in addressing the needs of displaced people?
Please join the Wilson Center on Monday, September 20, 2021, from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m., for a discussion with Colombian President Iván Duque on the lessons learned from Colombia’s history with displacement as well as to discuss the current humanitarian and development challenges facing Colombia.
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