MADRES DE LA CANDELARIA

“Nuestra lucha será hasta que aparezca el último secuestrado y el último desaparecido."

"Our struggle will continue until the last kidnapped and disappeared one appears." -Madres De La Candelaria

Madres De La Candelaria are an assembly of 150 Mothers whose sons, daughters, and loved ones have mysteriously disappeared as a result of the drug war. Formed in 1999, they gather every Wednesday at noon in front of the Candelaria Church in Medellin, in an action to raise awareness of these kidnappings and demand the return of the loved ones. Most have been missing for many years but the Mothers have hope and pray faithfully for their safe return as well as an end to this gruesome war. On November 27, 2006 they were granted the National Peace Prize. The Mothers say it is just the beginning of the work that lies ahead of them.

A woman prays at the pesebre/nativity scene inside La Candelaria Church.

A Mother shows a picture of her son who is missing.

Children of parents who went missing this month.

Amparo, one of the lead organizers of the Mothers, chants into the megaphone: "Los llevaron vivos, que los regresen vivos." ("They were taken alive, they must be returned alive."

The daughter of a disappeared father.

The Mother of a disappeared son. She only began crying when she shared how her husband's health was failing as a result of the trauma of his missing son.

A Mother shows the picture of her disappeared son.

Mothers talk about their next action plan.

For more information:
http://www.lainsignia.org/2006/diciembre/ibe_057.htm



Photos by Michelle Gutierrez taken for The Annual Women's Report published by Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)
www.forcolombia.org
www.forusa.org