MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON A MOVING VISIT TO COLOMBIA THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH CHAMPIONS FEMALE SURVIVORS AND SPEAKS FROM THE HEART ABOUT THE POWER OF SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Bringing warmth, compassion and her dancing shoes, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Colombia last week to shine a light on women affected by war.

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Sophie, whose trip came at the request of the Government, flew to Bogotá to champion the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. She began her stay by meeting the country’s first AfroColombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, a celebrated environmental activist and minister of equality and equity.

She then paid a moving visit to the capital’s Centre for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation, where she met survivors of sexual violence committed during Colombia’s 52-year internal armed conflict and tenderly hugged the mother of one of its victims.

That conflict, which was fought between the government, FARC revolutionaries and other guerrilla groups, far-right paramilitaries and crime syndicates, has disproportionate had a effect on women and girls, many of whom are survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

The Duchess also joined a discussion with women from the Colombian armed forces to hear about their work supporting the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda.

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Later, Sophie flew south to Cali, where she was persuaded to try out some dance moves at the Somos Pacificos cultural centre.