Rosalba Gaviria Toro with students, Ellie Gudgeon and Annie Cooper, from Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Kerry.
You can make a difference
Students in Kenmare, Kerry recently found out how getting involved in a campaign can make a difference.
Transition year students, Ellie Gudgeon and Annie Cooper heard, through their teacher Anne Piggott, about the plight of Colombian trade unionists, in general and one in particular. Rosalba Gaviria Toro, a trade union and human rights activist was detained and imprisoned, without trial, by Colombian authorities in March, 2009 before being released without charge in June 2011. Ellie Gudgeon and Annie Cooper, chose to get involved to help right this injustice and take on the issue of Rosalba’s release as part of their school project. This proved to be an instrumental part of her campaign and in fact Ms. Gaviria Toro wrote directly to the two girls from Villa Cristina Prison in Quindio , Colombia, stating: “I look forward to meeting you and thanking you in person.”
More than 400 letters, signed by fellow students and teachers, which protested against her imprisonment without trial, were sent to the Colombian Embassy in London. The actions of the students of Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine clearly made a difference and helped secure the release of Rosalba.
The student were delighted to hear that in December Rosalba would be visiting the UK and had requested to come to Ireland and meet with the students. She was welcomed to the school by Dermot Healy, the school principal and Anne Piggott, the teacher who had encouraged her students to get involved in the ICTU/JFC Ireland prisoner release campaign. Speaking through an interpreter during the visit, Ms Gaviria Toro said the letters were an extremely important part of the international campaign for her release. “I think it was one of the main things that helped me, and visiting the school to express my appreciation is my main mission in Ireland,” she said. A leading member of Fensuargo, the agriculture workers’ union, she said prisoners in Colombia included trade unionists, student activists, community leaders, human rights defenders and academics who oppose the governing regime.
We now hope to start another campaign soon to help release some of Rosalba's colleagues, held without charge or trial.
Remember, every action makes a difference so please keep in touch and get involved in some of our campaigns. More information on the situation in Colombia can be found here.