On June 18, the Minister of Housing, City and Territory of Colombia,Helga María Rivas Ardila, and the Vice Minister of Water and Basic Sanitation,Edward Steven Mamby Booksellers, held a meeting with the President of the Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA),Cardinal Pedro Barreto, and the Rector of the University Institute of Water and Sanitation (IUAS),Luis Liberman.
The objective of the meeting was to create a space for the exchange of knowledge on the right to water as a common good, with special attention to vulnerable populations in the Amazon, and to advance collaboration between the Colombian Ministry of Housing, theIUAS y la CEAMA.
During the fraternal dialogue, the major challenges related to access to water and sanitation in Colombia were comprehensively addressed, as well as the impact of extractive models on the habitat and quality of life of Amazonian communities.
Vice Minister Libreros presented the Colombian government’s priorities regarding water and sanitation, particularly the need to close the gaps for the most vulnerable populations, highlighting the emblematic case of the Atrato River, legally recognized as a subject of rights.
For its part, CEAMA shared the vision of an integral ecology inspired by the Synod for the Amazon, which proposes new paths for the Church and a committed action to defend our Common Home. The contribution that the University Institute of Water can offer in creating spaces for knowledge, dissemination, and management in this area was highlighted.
“Access to water is key to social inclusion and to water justice, which is also social justice,” the meeting emphasized. Furthermore, it was agreed that equitable access to water must be a fundamental pillar of territorial planning, with a vision that respects the interconnectedness of all elements of the Amazonian territory.
This dialogue opened new perspectives for coordination between ministries, academia, and CEAMA, in favor of public policies that respond to the needs of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, riverine residents, quilombolas, and other Amazonian communities.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue building spaces for cooperation, sharing best practices, and promoting dignified and universal access to water, as a concrete path toward caring for life and the Common Home in the Amazon.