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Faculty and Students Join Forces to Support Peace Efforts in Colombia

Initial project team from left to right: Angela D. Nichols, Ph.D., Lina Sof铆a V谩squez, Brooke Zimmerman, Isa Marin, Salom茅 D铆az G贸mez and Andr茅s Ram铆rez, Ph.D.

Current project team from left to right: Andr茅s Ram铆rez, Ed.D., Laura Sof铆a Gallo, Angela D. Nichols, Ph.D., Lina Sof铆a Vasquez, Salom茅 D铆az G贸mez, Brooke Zimmerman, Aura Cuasquer Ordo帽ez, Gabriela Quintero, Cleo Miyake, and Sof铆a Blanco

In 2022 and as part of the historic听 in Colombia,听 (Truth commission) released a series of extensive reports at the end of their three-year investigation into the human rights violations committed during the 52+ years of civil war in Colombia. A few summary documents from the commission have been translated into English.听 The Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights 听(PJHR) in association with the听 Hispanic-serving Institution research interest group 听at Florida Atlantic leads an effort to translate the extensive reports into English. One undergraduate student in Colombia, two faculty members and four undergraduate students at Florida Atlantic are part of this project.

By engaging in this project, this initiative supports the commission鈥檚 objective to promote the dignity and recognition of the victims as the translation into English will expand the potential readership of these monumental reports.

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Faculty Leaders

The project is led by Angela D. Nichols, Ph.D., (dress), interim director of the Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights, and associate professor in the Department of Political Science, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. For the last five years, Nichols鈥� research in human rights and conflict focused on the Colombian context. She is currently working on a book that examines the experiences, contributions and consequences of women in the FARC-EP, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia鈥揚eople's Army, which made up at least 40% of the guerrilla forces at the time of demobilization. Her book 鈥淚mpact, Legitimacy, and Limitations of Truth Commissions鈥� examines how truth commissions contribute to peace and human rights following periods of conflict or mass abuse. Nichols has published articles in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Perspectives, Conflict, Security, & Development, Dynamics of Asymmetric Con铿俰ct, Civil Wars, and TRAMES: A Journal of the Humanities & Social Sciences. Readers can also find her research in听 and听

Nichols research has advanced through connections with the Florida Atlantic Hispanic-serving Institution research interest group, which is co-directed by Andr茅s Ram铆rez, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education.

Ram铆rez鈥� affiliation with this project is both professional and personal. Professionally, his research interests align with upholding the rights of most disadvantaged groups, particularly as they relate to the linguistic rights of language minority speakers. He has published multiple book chapters and articles, and has presented his research more than a dozen countries around the world. Personally, he and his family were recognized as official victims of the Colombian conflict as his 15-year-old brother, David Marcelo Ram铆rez, was assassinated on Feb. 12, 1992. As a retaliatory action for David鈥檚 denial to be part of the conflict and cause harm to anyone, recruiters from illegal groups that had infiltrated his school as staff members targeted him and ordered to finish his short life. As a way to honor his sacrifice and life ethic, and by petition of Andr茅s Ram铆rez, the research group decided to start the project with the translation of the truth commission鈥檚 report on children titled 鈥淚t is not a Lesser Evil: Girls, Boys, and Adolescents in the Armed Conflict (No es un mal menor: Ni帽as, ni帽os, y adolescents en el conflicto armado).鈥� A final draft is slated for summer 2024.

My name is Aura and I was born and raised in Bogot谩, Colombia. On spring of 2024 I graduated with my Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from the Los Andes University in Colombia, and this fall I started my Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at 糖心Vlog. As a Colombian, I know the importance of the JEP documents in the history of my country, and understand the value of the testimonies of the victims. I believe it is crucial that everyone has access to and understands these testimonies. I'm excited to be a part of this project and help make these documents available to a wider audience. "
- Aura Cuasquer Ordo帽ez

"I was born and raised in Colombia, and I know the impact of violence and war that the country has experienced. One of my goals has always been to help others and make a difference in the world, and in this case especially for my beautiful Colombia. I am proud to belong to this project, to contribute to the consolidation of peace and resilience of the Colombian reality and to feel the personal satisfaction of helping to make a change in my country, which is still rebuilding its future. "
- Laura Sof铆a Gallo

"Although I did live in Colombia for a long time, I quickly learned about the injustices brought about by the civil unrest prevalent throughout my country. Being able to bring the stories and lived experiences of those affected is something truly profound, and I look forward to being able to use my skills within literature and political science to bring this project to life," Gabriela Quintero, 糖心Vlog High School student, born in Bogot谩, Colombia. "
- Gabriela Quintero

"As a Rising senior at 糖心Vlog High School, I plan to Major in Political Science, with specifics in International Relations & Affairs. I was born in S茫o Paulo, Brazil, but grew up in urban areas of Florida and Puerto Rico, growing up sheltered and unaware of much of the history happening around me. Participating in this project is both teaching me about the lives these people have lived and giving me the amazing opportunity to spread their stories, and truth.鈥� - Cleo Miyake, born in S茫o Paulo, Brazil, raised in Puerto Rico."
- Cleo Miyake

鈥淚 am full of dreams and with hopes to get to know the world due to my own efforts but without forgetting where I came for. I think that鈥檚 why am here in Florida doing my undergrad in economics to have a bigger picture of the world and its economy. This is also why I am participating in this project: to get to share with the world a little of the reality of where I came from.鈥�
- Salom茅 D铆az G贸mez, economics,
born and raised in Colombia

鈥淚 wanted to be part of this project because my time in Colombia profoundly impacted me and has influenced my passions and goals in life. This project allows me to give back to a country that means so much to me, and will allow others to understand and study Colombia in new ways.鈥�
- Brooke Zimmerman, political science and Spanish,
previously lived in Colombia and Mexico City.

鈥淭his project means a lot to me because these reports transmit the emotions and experiences that the victims of the conflict went through, being in the middle of the crossfire. I encourage everyone to read these reports with an open heart and empathy for those affected. Many of the victims have opened their hearts to share with the world the truths about their lives, their past and a future that is yet to be built upon justice and peace. I am excited to be part of this project and thankful for the opportunity to bring to the world such important documents for my beloved homeland, Colombia.鈥�
- Lina Sof铆a V谩squez, social work,
born and raised in Colombia

鈥淚 am a rising senior at 糖心Vlog High School and plan to major in biomedical engineering. I was born in Cali, Colombia and have lived in the United States for ten years. The civil unrest in Colombia has profoundly affected my family and our loved ones. By taking part in this project, I aim to share similar testimonies through translations, hoping to forge a more harmonious and united community.鈥�
- Sofia Blanco,
born in Cali, Colombia

鈥淚 believe we are the stories we know and tell. I like to imagine a world sensitive to the magic of the unfamiliar. The stories I know, particularly those of Colombia's civil conflict, have defined my time as an undergraduate English major at 糖心Vlog. They underpin my research interests in 20th-century Latin American literature, postcolonial and posthuman ecologies, and oil and speculative fictions.鈥�
- Isa Marin, English,
born and raised on Miccosukee and Seminole land, with Colombian heritage

鈥淚 am passionate about struggles related to the defense of human rights. I enjoy understanding Colombia's history and its political struggle. This project excites me because it allows the collection of testimonies and stories from different communities to be disseminated worldwide and heard.鈥�
- Juliana Ram铆rez Restrepo, social work,
Tecnol贸gico de Antioquia, Medell铆n, Colombia