Luz
Perly Córdoba Mosquera is an indigenous political activist that has been fighting
against the economic, political, and social injustices suffered by Colombian peasants
since she was 11 years old. The region of Arauca where she lives has been ravaged
by war, conflict and controversy. Córdoba works against the forced displacement
of local rural communities as land in her region is claimed for oil and other
corporate interests. She was first illegally arrested by the Colombian national
army at 17 when she was 3 months pregnant, and was raped and tortured. She was
again illegally arrested in 2004 for 'rebellion' and spent 14 months in prison
until international pressure secured her release in 2005. She was forced to flee
her native country after numerous death threats, but continues to advocate for
her people in exile. While in prison in 2004, Luz Perly Córdoba was awarded the
Danish Peace Prize for her work defending the human rights of Colombian peasants,
and she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 as part of the 1000 Women
for the Nobel Peace Prize project.
