When Silence is Not Golden: Colombian Women Fight for their Rights

In the bustling city of Bogotá, Olga Amparo Sánchez Gómez, Director of Corporación Casa de la Mujer (CCM), prepares for a journey to Medellín, the heart of Colombia's Antioquia province. There, in the shadow of the region’s lucrative gold mines, Sánchez Gómez will meet with local partners to tackle a rising tide of violence against women and girls—a battle as relentless as the flow of gold from this mineral-rich land. 

Antioquia, known for producing nearly half of Colombia's gold[1], is also a place where wealth, armed conflict, and criminal activity have left deep scars. For women and human rights defenders, the region remains particularly dangerous, even as Colombia emerges from decades of armed conflict marked by high rates of sexual violence and femicide. 

Together with the Instituto de la Conversación and with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, CCM is working to turn the tide. In three of Antioquia’s municipalities—El Bagre, Zaragoza, and Nechí—their efforts focus on increasing access to justice for survivors of physical and sexual violence, and for the families of women lost to femicide. At the same time, they work on the ground with local communities to prevent gender-based violence. 

A Complex Crisis: Gender-based Violence in Antioquia 

For more than 40 years, CCM has been on the frontlines of the feminist movement in Colombia, witnessing both progress and setbacks. Yet, in Antioquia, the forces driving gender-based violence have become increasingly complex. One local activist put it bluntly: “We are living in a hyper-masculinized society. Here, men believe they must control nature—and by extension, women.” 

Gold mining in the region, often dangerous and rife with corruption, excludes women from participation unless they engage in illegal mining. In such settings, women are frequently coerced into providing "sexual favors" in exchange for access to the riverbanks where men dig for gold. 

But this is just the beginning. CCM, along with its partners, faces a web of issues including forced labor, sexual exploitation in illegal mining camps, displacement of Indigenous communities, and environmental devastation caused by archaic mining techniques and mercury used in gold extraction[2]. Against this grim backdrop, CCM remains one of the few organizations working to protect women's rights while offering critical specialist support to those affected by sexual violence and femicide. 

Local Action: Empowering Women to Fight Back 

Despite these challenges, there is hope. CCM collaborates with three grassroots organizations, COGESTAR, ASOMGABA and ASMUNE, under the “Barequeando” initiative, which aims to empower women gold miners and equip communities to address violence against women, in a localized manner. 

Each partner organization brings its own strengths to the table. ASMUNE hosts workshops that teach women how to take part in local decision-making, while ASOMGABA provides vocational training, helping women produce clothing and sell agricultural products. These initiatives create safe spaces where women can unite, learn, and assert their rights. 

To date, CCM has reached 146 women, all of whom are now equipped to identify gender-based violence and seek help. Another 756 people, including men, boys, and members of the media, have been educated on the impact of violence against women in their communities. 

The fight for gender justice doesn’t stop there. CCM recently convened a forum in Antioquia that brought together 71 representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society groups, including the National University of Colombia, the Antioquia government, the national Ministry of Mines and Energy, and non-profit organization the Alliance for Responsible Mining. Together, they strategized ways to establish a sustainable, agroecological mining district—one that prioritizes the safety and rights of women. 

A Dangerous Path for Human Rights Defenders 

For those defending human rights in Antioquia, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The presence of armed groups tied to illegal activities makes it risky to speak out. Angélica Arrieta, Coordinator at Instituto de la Conversación, one of CCM’s partners, explains the situation: “In this region, it is risky for people to identify themselves as social leaders because of the harassment that social leaders and human rights defenders suffer.” 

The dangers are real. Nationally, Colombia's Attorney General has reported the investigation of 549 killings of human rights defenders and social leaders between 2016 and 2019[3]. In this climate of fear, one woman activist said, “We live in fear all the time, but we keep working.” 

That determination is felt throughout the region, as women like Angélica and her colleagues refuse to let threats silence their voices. 

Transforming Trauma into Empowerment 

At a recent event aimed at reconstructing historical memory, women from across the region gathered to share how violence had impacted their lives. One participant from ASMUNE described the experience as liberating: “Many women who participated [in the event] felt liberated. The region has always been profoundly affected by conflict; there are a lot of forced disappearances, rapes, and this activity significantly shows how women are impacted in many ways.” 

Efforts like these are more than just events—they are part of a movement. CCM, alongside other feminist organizations, is building a new generation of civil society leaders, empowering women to stand together and demand change. 

As one participant from ASMUNE, Jessica, remarked, “Barequeando will be a lifelong symbol of struggle. Now, we know how to speak up, how to make our voices heard.” 

[1] OECD, “Responsible Business Conduct: Due diligence in Colombia’s gold supply chain: Gold mining in Antioqia.” Accessed: 22 August 2024.

[2] United Nations Environmental Programme, “Mercury has long poisoned gold miners. This new strategy is helping change that,” 15 August 2024.

[3] United Nations Security Council, “Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict: Conclusions on children and armed conflict in Colombia,” 29 July 2020, S/AC.51/2020/5. See also: International Court of Justice, “Colombia: Human rights defenders continue to face pressure and attacks”, 2 March 2023.