On 2 May 2024, Legal Action Worldwide and the Embassy of Australia in Colombia facilitated a Gender Justice Practitioners Hub roundtable in Bogotá, Colombia. More than 30 representatives from civil society, academia, UN agencies and executive and judicial state institutions joined to gather their input and perspectives as experts in gender justice efforts in the region.
Recognising the decades of consolidated expertise in the region in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of gender-based crimes in contexts of armed conflict, dictatorships, and political repression, participants underscored the need for a space for practitioners to safely come together, coordinate and collaborate. Roundtable participants highlighted the importance that the Hub prioritises access and communication of the vast amount of information, resources, learnings, jurisprudence, and legal frameworks that is already produced and available in the region. Ideas around the functioning of the Hub were also considered. Furthermore, participants supported the idea that the Hub could integrate interdisciplinary tools, as the experience in Latin America has shown that the combination of knowledge and support beyond legal professionals have proved successful in key landmark decisions on gendered crimes.
