According to the Mayor’s Office, more than 15 protests are scheduled to take place this week in Bogota, significantly impacting mobility. Authorities anticipate heightened activity in the streets as various social sectors participate, each advocating for their respective agendas through peaceful demonstrations. Cultural activities are also expected throughout the week.
The Secretary of Government of Bogota, along with a team of social dialogue negotiators, will accompany the protests to ensure they unfold in an orderly and peaceful manner.
Protest agenda for the upcoming days in Bogota, Colombia
According to organizers, the planned demonstrations are as follows:
March 6
Protests have been called by CEPAZ, the Center for Education for Peace, Memory, and Human Rights, an organization dedicated to promoting peace education, preserving historical memory, and advocating for human rights through research, training, and social outreach. The Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (UPN), where CEPAZ is based, will also support the demonstrations.
The Mayor’s Office has indicated that this protest will primarily take place around the Attorney General’s Office, an area where traffic disruptions are expected.
March 7
Multiple protests are planned across the city, coinciding with the National Day of Commemoration for Victims of State Violence.
8:00 AM: A demonstration led by the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (UPN), joined by ‘Mujeres Imparables,’ a women’s advocacy group raising awareness about health issues, barriers to abortion access, and reproductive rights in Colombia. The march will begin at Alameda del Líder in Bosa, one of Bogotá’s largest and most populous localities, and will conclude at Plaza Fundacional in Bosa.
9:00 AM: Another protest will take place in Fontibón, a locality in the western part of the city, near El Dorado International Airport.
4:00 PM: A feminist demonstration, organized by local activists and the Fontibón Mayor’s Office, will take place under the name ‘Las Mujeres Se Toman Las Calles’ (‘Women Take Over the Streets’). The march will start at Parque Centenario and end at Parque Fundacional de Fontibón.
March 8
Several protests and cultural events will take place in Bogota to commemorate International Women’s Day.
8:00 AM: The protest ‘Mujeres Históricas e Independientes’ (‘Historic and Independent Women’) will take place in Fontibón, followed by a cultural event at Carrera 24 #27-Sur.
1:00 PM: The organization ‘Somos un Rostro Colectivo’ will lead the ‘Gran Marcha #8M’ (‘Great #8M March’), advocating for a dignified life in Colombia. The march will begin at Calle 45 with Carrera 7, affecting traffic on one of Bogotá’s main streets, and will end at the Plaza de Bolívar, the main square in the city center.
Additional protests are expected throughout the day, with specific details still being finalized. Some of the anticipated demonstrations include:
A march called by Asociación Manos Amigas, set to take place in Chapinero, one of Bogotá’s most traditional and central localities, to denounce gender-based violence.
A demonstration by feminist groups starting from Centro Mayor (south Bogotá) and proceeding to Parque El Restrepo (Carrera 17 #19) in the Antonio Nariño neighborhood, a major commercial hub.
A protest organized by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), demanding labor rights for women and social reforms to address gender inequality.
According to DANE, the wage gap between men and women in Colombia remains a persistent issue, averaging between 18-20%. This disparity forces a vast majority of women in the country to remain in the informal economic sector. Through the protest, CUT demands pay equity and respect for women in the labor sector, an inclusive social transformation empowering women in leadership and decision-making roles, and the eradication of violence and all forms of discrimination against women in the country.
The Mayor’s Office of Bogota advises citizens to plan ahead in anticipation of potential road closures or blockades in the coming days.