Nov 25, 2011
When: Thursday Dec 1st, 2011 @ 2 – 4 pm
Where: Champlain’s Living Learning Commons
This colloquium will address the problems of refugees and illegal immigration in Ecuador. It will be an informative session on the history of the country and how the continuing flow of refugees affects its economy and overall social life.
Ecuador has more refugees than any other Latin American country – a consequence of the longstanding conflict in Colombia, which has received little international attention. Five to ten refugees arrive in Ecuador every day, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mainly from two southern Colombian provinces bordering Ecuador, Putumayo and Nariño. Of the estimated 180,000 who have entered Ecuador escaping violence, 16,500 have received a refugee visa and 22,000 are awaiting a response.
We will be discussing the Ecuadorian government and international community’s role in dealing with the situation and listening to the experience of one of the speakers who spent a year working with a local NGO helping the Colombian refugees in Ecuador.
Speakers: Cristina Argudo & Maliina Boassen
Refreshments will be provided
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