As media reports continue to catalogue increasing violence in Cauca, Voices wanted to better understand the reality of this issue. In turn, we surveyed 100 people in various municipalities throughout the department on whether they agreed with news reports that violence has been rising over recent years. In response, a clear majority (69%) agreed that violence has indeed increased since the signing of the peace agreement in 2016
In asking what reasons were behind increasing levels of violence over recent years, most respondents avoided placing blame on the specifics of the peace agreement or its implementation simply requiring more time. Instead, the most common explanations to increasing violence cited bad faith efforts from stakeholders central to the peace process. For instance, many respondents (36.5%) thought that stakeholders directly involved in the final agreement were not serious about implementing solutions even as nearly half of respondents (44.8%) argued that the status quo is merely inviting emerging threats that are driving further violence. The most common explanation to increasing violence, however, was corruption, with 59.4% of those surveyed believing those in power are more interested in exploiting local communities rather than protecting them. As one interviewee described it, “The local authorities do nothing to stop or reduce acts that promote insecurity,” and as a result “There is no decent security for anyone.”
Against the trend of rising violence, however, is an enduring belief in peace. When surveyed on whether change is possible, a strong majority in Cauca (75%) said yes that violence could give way to peace, while only a small minority (6.3%) disagreed.
When asking those respondents what approaches are most likely to reduce violence moving forward, those options with the greatest support include:
As one respondent suggested, “Violence can be mitigated through culture, strengthening community processes using artistic expressions as communal therapy to reflect and overcome the consequences of violence. Build a new history.”
As another respondent suggested, “There is a need for awareness campaigns about what violence is and so on, since many forms of violence have been normalized that make it seem as if they do not exist, and for this reason there is no thought of a change to these practices since they are not is aware that these exist.”
As another respondent suggested, “Social projects to strengthen rural and urban communities, and educational projects for youth, generate more economic opportunities to reduce people’s needs.”
As another respondent suggested, “The lack of opportunities for the reintegrated population, within a polarized country that has not fulfilled the commitments made in the peace treaties, could represent an example of how the country is once again facing the growth of systematic violence.”