As a peace organisation based in Switzerland, we have been exploring the question: What does a decolonised approach to peacebuilding based on feminist values look like in practice? Our global collaboration with partners has repeatedly shown us that the challenges to women's peace and security can only be overcome through transnational strategies. These are geopolitically relevant, emerge from local initiatives and are led by local women peace activists on the ground. The first step in implementing our localisation efforts was the opening of an office in Colombia on 1 May 2025.

We are fully aware of our privileged position in the Global North, which allows us to carry out our work in safety and in a relatively predictable environment, especially as an organisation based in Switzerland. The same does not apply to our partners in countries and regions affected by armed conflict – quite the contrary. However, we believe that this privilege also creates responsibility. 

Equality, respect and self-care

In recent years, we have invested time and energy in discussions on how we, as a Swiss-based feminist organisation, can not only conceive of a decolonialised approach, but actually implement it. In our joint work with our partners, we already apply many of the principles that are important to us: co-creation and communication among equal partners, feminist decision-making and accountability structures, respect and recognition of mutual autonomy, and self-care.

However, proximity – in both the human and geographical sense – is essential in order to provide our partners with more direct and effective technical and strategic support. With more direct support, we can offer them added value, particularly through our global networking activities. Our board therefore decided to integrate a localisation component into the 2022–2025 strategy and to launch a pilot project to open a locally managed office in a programme country.

Why Colombia?

In our efforts to redefine and decolonise our approach to peacebuilding, we opened our first local office in Colombia. We have been active there since 2016 and our team has contextual experience and language skills. Colombia is also considered a pioneer in the inclusion of women in peace processes and a driving force for progress in feminist peacebuilding. Colombia also has one of the most influential women's movements for the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda. 

Colombia is facing several realities: ongoing armed conflict; peace agreements that are being implemented; and ongoing peace negotiations with various armed actors. In all these areas, the equal and meaningful participation of women must continue to be promoted. We are convinced that a local office in Colombia will further complement and strengthen the power of social movements for women and peace in the country. The additional connection with global feminist networks is geopolitically relevant and contributes to advancing the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda.

After a comprehensive context analysis and clarification of political, strategic, administrative and legal issues, we officially opened the office in Bogotá on 1 May 2025. The office is headed by Suayan Barón Melgarejo. With her, we have gained a Colombian expert on gender, peacebuilding and the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda. She will contribute significantly to the implementation of our localisation efforts. 

Sharing insights

After the three-year pilot phase and a subsequent evaluation, we will decide whether to continue localisation in other countries. The insights gained in the office will be incorporated into the development and implementation of a feminist, solidarity-based and decolonial approach to cooperation in our work. We will make the knowledge gained in this foundational work available to the community of organisations and individuals working in peacebuilding.

More informationen on our programme in Colombia.

Read the article by Suayan Barón Melgarejo that appeared in à propos (KOFF) in Spanish: "Primer Plan 1325 y 30 años de mujeres construyendo paz en Colombia: ¿Qué podemos aprender desde Suiza?". The article is also available in English and German.

"Colombia's peace hangs on a thread" (interview with the human rights lawyer Luz Marina Monzón Cifuentes on the news platform swissinfo)