Karen Juliana Beltrán: feminist activism in the midst of conflict

El Plateado is a rural district of the municipality of Argelia, located in the southwest of Cauca, a region historically marked by state abandonment, a coca-driven economy, and the constant presence of illegal armed groups. Since the late 1990s, El Plateado became a strategic point for guerrilla groups due to its location in the western mountain range, natural corridors leading to the Pacific, and its importance for territorial control in southwestern Colombia.

In recent years, clashes between the Army and illegal armed groups have led to a state of emergency, characterised by forced displacement and restricted mobility - with devasting impact on women and girls.

In this context Karen Juliana, principal of educational institutions in Argelia and one of the founders of the Women’s Advisory Council is a beacon of hope.

Karen's voice is energetic. With a deep calling as an educator, she has mobilised the educational community to ensure access to education for rural children in Cauca, while also establishing herself as a key leader in the women’s movement in the region.

Her two-pronged approach; lobbying institutions to take note of their region and advocating for gender responsive services but also movement building in the community and creating a safe space in the women's house for people to meet, has been effective.

She recalls “... women started filing complaints. Many hadn’t done so before due to fear - and other times, and I always say this in meetings with both men and women - sometimes we blame the victim.”

In a region marked by multiple forms of violence and deep structural inequality, the community-led work by women like Karen - together with organisations like ActionAid - has opened spaces for protection, dialogue, and transformation.