Senator Iván Cepeda, a pre-candidate for the Historic Pact, presented his third speech, titled "What does an ethical revolution mean in defense of humanity?" during an event at the National University of Colombia on National Human Rights Day. In his remarks, he highlighted the transformative role of social struggles and the victims of crimes against humanity in building a culture of rights in the country.
Cepeda recalled figures such as Jesús María Valle and Héctor Abad Gómez, murdered defenders, and noted that in Colombia human rights have been the result of persistent mobilizations rather than state concessions. She emphasized that women, particularly mothers searching for missing persons, have been essential in bringing to light crimes such as forced disappearances and false positives.
The presidential candidate warned of the risk of a "moral paralysis" resulting from prolonged violence, which normalizes atrocities and erodes ethical conscience. In response, he affirmed that the power of victims' truth is essential to rekindling social empathy, exposing those responsible for serious crimes, and paving the way for reconciliation and peace.
Finally, in an international statement, Cepeda condemned what he described as genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, as part of his reflection on the defense of human rights in Colombia and around the world.
Source cited: Full video of the speech on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfvMnExauPA