Adriana Maria Benjumea Rúa
Director – Corporación Humanas Colombia
“Colombia is facing new challenges and discussions on legal frameworks that ensure the right to justice for victims."
Adriana Maria Benjumea Rúa is a lawyer, researcher and feminist whose work with Humanas, including on the issue of gender and political influence, has led to the organization becoming a leading advocate of inclusive perspectives in the Colombian peace process.
Adriana is the director of Corporación Humanas Colombia. As a lawyer, researcher and feminist working on the issue of gender and political influence, Adriana’s responsibilities includes the important work of monitoring public policies around care for victims and ensuring that they are not implemented without a gender perspective.
Adriana’s extensive socio-legal research on gender justice and violence against women in armed conflicts as well as her strategic litigation work in cases of sexual violence in transitional justice frameworks have contributed to the leading role of Humanas among civil society engaging in the Colombia peace talks.
“Colombia is facing new challenges and discussions on legal frameworks that ensure the right to justice for victims. This also represents an opportunity to strengthen the compliance with national and international legal standards for the protection of women and girls. The role of women's organizations is crucial for advocacy in order to move forward in overcoming obstacles in cases of violence against women committed in armed conflict Justice cannot remain being a utopia for women; it needs to be included in the construction of a democratic and peaceful society.”
Under Adriana’s leadership, Humanas has specifically worked to highlight the issues that Colombia is experiencing in relation to the peace agreement signed between the national government and rebel group FARC-EP. Humanas’ work currently focuses on strengthening national and international legal standards for the protection of women and girls in armed conflict and providing access to justice for victims.
Adriana advocates the importance of work in favor of women’s rights, and specifically the need to use the mechanisms provided by international criminal law tribunals to give sexual violence against women during conflict the focus it deserves. Toward this end, Adriana calls for an enhanced understanding of the violence that took place during the armed conflict in Colombia, which continues to affect women and girls in different ways.
