Nov. 3, 6.30 PM to 8:30 PM. The Global Afro Latino Caribbean Initiative (GALCI) will sponsor a discussion with
Zulia Mena moderated by Humberto Brown
Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute
408 W. 58th Street
(Bt. 9th & 10th Aves.)
(212-307-7420)
Nov. 4,
Zulia will also be a featured guest on WBAI’s Friday morning “Wake-Up Call” with host Mario Murillo
Zulia Mena has been at the forefront of the struggle for Afro-Colombian and women’s rights in Colombia for most of her life. Born in the northwestern Colombian province of Chocó, which is 90% African descendant, Zulia was formally trained as a social worker before taking on a leadership role in the development of new
legislation regarding Afro-Colombian rights following the ratification of Colombia’s new constitution in 1991. Subsequently, Zulia was elected to Congress in 1994 and served four years as Colombia’s first ever Afro-Colombian congresswoman.
Today, Zulia continues her work in Chocó as a community organizer and social worker. She has addressed international audiences and policy makers in
Europe, the U. S. and throughout South America, speaking about the situation of
Afro-Colombians, human rights and ethnic minorities, women in Colombia, land rights, and citizen participation in democracy, among many other themes.
Zulia has received several awards for her commitment to community organizing and her work has been published in various books, magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times.
In a multi-city tour which began in North Carolina and will end in New York City, Mena has addressed a broad audience including: policy makers; the president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; local universities; and civil society groups working in solidarity with Afro-Colombians to end theconflict.
While in New York City, Mena will talk about on-going efforts to protect the Afro-Colombian communities that were given rights to their land by “Law 70 (Ley de
Negritudes/Law of the Blacks).”
No comments:
Post a Comment