Order of Women and Democracy “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
Mantenerse al día
Orden de Mujeres y Democracia “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
Claudia García, Bogotá, Colombia
El martes 14 de diciembre de 2021, la Liga de La Leche Colombia recibió la condecoración de la Orden de la Mujer y la Democracia “Policarpa Salavarrieta” de manos de la Comisión Jurídica para la Equidad de la Mujer del Congreso de la República de Colombia (Comisión).
En la Orden nuestro trabajo es reconocido de la siguiente manera:
en beneficio de la comunidad lactante para fortalecer la seguridad alimentaria de los infantes a través de la promoción de la lactancia materna, así como la salud mental y física de las madres gestantes y lactantes, mediante el fortalecimiento de las redes de apoyo
La historia de LLL Colombia
La norteamericana, Carolina E. de Villa, fue la fundadora de la Liga de La Leche en nuestro país. Casada con el ingeniero colombiano, Álvaro Villa, conoció la Liga de La Leche Internacional (LLLI) en 1963. Durante los años siguientes quiso compartir sus experiencias y aprendizajes en Colombia y fundó en Medellín, en 1976, la Liga de La Leche, y 10 años más tarde, en Bogotá.
Carolina desempeñó varios cargos en LLLI, entre ellos el de coordinadora general para Latinoamérica. Unos años después de la trágica muerte de su esposo, víctima de la violencia en Medellín, Carolina de Villa regresó a los Estados Unidos, en donde permaneció al tanto del devenir de su querida Liga de la Leche Colombia hasta su muerte, el 6 de mayo de 2016. Es autora del libro “Querer es poder, reflexiones y sugerencias sobre la lactancia maternal”, de venta en la Liga de la Leche Colombia). Carolina permanece en el corazón de las líderes que tuvieron el privilegio de trabajar con ella en los inicios de la Liga en nuestro país. La recuerdan como una mujer tremendamente generosa, llena de amor y que dejó grandes enseñanzas en su paso por Colombia. ¡Gracias a ella por su inmensa contribución a la lactancia!
Publicidad previa al Premio
En 2019 estaba decidida a proyectar el documental MILK en Colombia. Mis compañeros de LLL Colombia me apoyaron y también busqué el apoyo de UNICEF (Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia). Como resultado, el documental fue proyectado en 14 ciudades del país y visto por 3.000 personas. A través de este emprendimiento conocí al asesor de la congresista Jezmy Lizeth Barraza Arraut, Andrés Martínez, quien nos invitó a proyectar el documental en el Congreso de la República. Ella venía trabajando por políticas que apoyaran a la mujer y fue entonces cuando la Comisión comenzó a aprender sobre LLL Colombia. LLL Colombia también ha apoyado el proyecto de ley de la Comunidad Lactantes, brindando información y yo participé con una ponencia en el debate de este proyecto de ley.
También nos conocía por el libro El Arte Femenino De Amamantar, que ha tenido muy buena acogida en nuestro país y se vende en todas las librerías. Se publicó por primera vez en español en 2017 gracias a la gestión de Valeria Baena y yo con la editorial Random House. Nuestra labor siempre les ha parecido de admirar y fue así como ella le solicitó al congreso dar un reconocimiento a nuestra labor de 45 años en Colombia.
Cabe señalar que LLL Colombia pertenece a varios comités en diferentes escenarios y somos un referente para organizaciones, universidades y el gobierno nacional quienes solicitan nuestro punto de vista. Hemos trabajado en varios proyectos como el GRUPO DE TRABAJO COVID en marzo de 2020, en el que dimos grandes aportes. También hemos apoyado la elaboración del Plan Decenal de Lactancia Materna 2020-2030. El trabajo voluntario de Líderes Colombianos ha sido particularmente reconocido por estos dos proyectos.
Orden de Mujeres y Democracia “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
En la ceremonia de premiación del 14 de diciembre de 2021, el Coordinador de la Red Internacional de Acción por Alimentos para Bebés (IBFAN), el colombiano, Rubén Orjuela, expresó unas lindas palabras en nuestro honor. También la Dra.: Nancy Bernal Pediatra e IBCLC expresó su agradecimiento por el apoyo que mutuamente nos brindamos, y una madre agradecida, Yajaira Bermúdez, expresó su vivencia como madre y representó a miles de madres, con unas palabras que nos hicieron salir lagrimas. Fue una noche conmovedora, llena de alegría y mucha oxitócica. Mi discurso de aceptación en español se puede ver aquí: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HnAyMpDcck&t=2371s
Recibir este reconocimiento ha sido un gran honor para nosotras, las Líderes voluntarias de La Leche League Colombia, y agradecemos a las miles de mujeres y familias que han confiado en nosotras para acompañarlas en su camino de lactancia. Sentimos el apoyo y respaldo del país y una validación a la linda labor que con pasión realizamos y de la que estoy segura, seguiremos haciendo. También queremos extender este reconocimiento a todos los Líderes que día a día trabajan junto a nosotros. ¡Este premio es para todos ustedes también!
Claudia García es líder desde hace diez años y es madre de Vanessa, una jovencita de 19 años. Conoció la LLL en el embarazo de su hija y siempre estuvo interesada en ser Líder. Vive en Bogotá y es ACL de AZA, un Área nueva, creada hace cinco años.
English translation:
Order of Women and Democracy “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
Claudia Garcia, Bogotá, Colombia
On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, Liga de la Leche Colombia received the decoration of the Order of Women and Democracy “Policarpa Salavarrieta” from the Legal Commission for Women’s Equity of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia (Commission).
In the Order our work is recognized as follows:
for the benefit of the breastfeeding community to strengthen the food security of infants through the promotion of breastfeeding, as well as the mental and physical health of pregnant and nursing mothers, by strengthening support networks.
The history of LLL Colombia
An American, Carolina E. de Villa, was the founder of La Leche League in our country. Married to the Colombian engineer, Álvaro Villa, she became aware of La Leche League International (LLLI) in 1963. Subsequently, in 1976 she founded Liga de la Leche in Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia, and ten years later, in Bogotá. Carolina held several positions in LLLI, including that of general Coordinator for Latin America. A few years after the tragic death of her husband, a victim of violence in Medellín, Carolina de Villa returned to the United States, where she remained in touch with the progress of her beloved Liga de La Leche Colombia until her death on 6 May 2016. She is the author of the book Querer es poder, reflexiones y sugerencias sobre la lactancia materna (Desire is Power, Reflections and Suggestions about Breastfeeding), sold by the Liga de la Leche Colombia. Carolina remains in the hearts of the Leaders who had the privilege of working with her during the beginnings of LLL in our country. She is remembered as a tremendously generous woman, full of love. During her time in Colombia she taught us a lot. We are grateful for her immense contribution to breastfeeding!
Publicity leading up to the Award
In 2019 I was determined to screen the documentary MILK in Colombia. My LLL Colombia colleagues supported me and I also sought the support of UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). As a result, the documentary was screened in 14 cities in the country and viewed by 3,000 people. Through this venture, I met Congresswoman Jezmy Lizeth Barraza Arraut’s adviser, Andres Martinez, who invited us to screen the documentary in the Congress of the Republic. She had been working towards policies that supported women and it was then that the Commission began to learn about LLL Colombia. LLL Colombia has also supported the Lactating Community bill, by providing information, and I participated with a speech in the debate on this bill.
They also knew of us because of the book, El Arte Femenino De Amamantar (The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding), which has been very well received in our country and is sold in all the bookstores. It was first published in Spanish in 2017, thanks to my and Valeria Baena’s coordination with Random House (a book publishing company).
The Commission has always admired our work, which is why Andres Martinez asked the Congress to recognize our 45-year work in Colombia. It should be noted that LLL Colombia belongs to several committees in different settings and we are a benchmark for organizations, universities and national government that request our point of view. We have worked on various projects such as the COVID TASK FORCE in March 2020, and we have also supported the development of the Ten-Year Breastfeeding Plan 2020-2030. The voluntary work of Colombian Leaders has been particularly recognized for these two projects.
Order of Women and Democracy “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
At the award ceremony on December 14, 2021, the Coordinator of the International Baby Foods Action Network (IBFAN), Colombian, Ruben Orjuela, spoke warmly in our honor. Dr. Nancy Bernal pediatrician and IBCLC, expressed her gratitude for the support we mutually offer and Yajaira Bermudez, who shared her experience as a grateful mother and represented thousands of mothers, made us cry with her speech. It was a moving night, full of joy and lots of oxytocin. My acceptance speech in Spanish can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HnAyMpDcck&t=2371s
Receiving this recognition has been a great honor for the volunteer Leaders of La Leche League Colombia, and we thank the thousands of women and families who have trusted us to accompany them in their breastfeeding journeys. We feel the support and backing of our country and feel validated for the beautiful work that we carry out with passion. We also want to extend this recognition to all the Leaders who work along with us every day. This award is for all of you too!
Claudia Garcia has been a Leader for ten years and is the mother of 19-year-old Vanessa. She found LLL when she was pregnant with her daughter and she was always interested in being a Leader. She lives in Bogotá and is the ACL of AZA, a new Area, created five years ago.
English translation of the delivered parchment
Legal Commission for Women’s Equity
Congress of the Republic of Colombia
Council of the Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
Honors Resolution number 046 of 2021
The Legal Commission for Women’s Equity of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, making use of its legal attributions and especially those conferred to it by Act 5 from 1992, Congress Regulations, Act 1434 from 2011, and the Legal Commission for Women’s Equity Board of Directors’ Resolution number 001 from 2020, and
Considering:
That the Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta” was created as a homage to the brave and courageous women; to exalt those natural or legal persons who promote the realization of women’s civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, which make them worthy of a great distinction that emanates as political representation of the Colombian woman.
That in this occasion we wish to express our admiration for Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia and publicly praise the work that it, since its inception, has done for the benefit of the “Breastfeeding Community” through the promotion, protection, and support for breastfeeding on national territory, safeguarding children’s food security as well as the mental and physical health of pregnant and breastfeeding women through the strengthening of support networks for this practice, which carries important benefits for society at large, having a positive and direct impact on the lives of more than 200,000 women, their babies, and their families.
That Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia has carried out its social work since 1976 in several cities in our country through support Groups offering help and mentoring to women, training to health professionals and institutions, and also by participating in project development, according to the policies established by La Leche League International and Colombian law.
That since then Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia is a nonprofit organization on national territory whose goal is to provide information and support to those women who wish to breastfeed their children, and that the international organization it is part of has NGO [non-governmental organization] status at the United Nations, without profit, religious or political goals, whose main objective is to promote and support breastfeeding together with a parenting style that values motherhood.
That this award was requested by the Honorable Jezmy Lizeth Barraza Arraut, President of the Legal Commission for Women’s Equity, wishing to praise Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia by proposing its name before the Council of the Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta”.
That Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia, according to the review carried out by the Council of the Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta”, perfectly fulfills the requirements demanded by Resolution number 001 from 2020;
That for all the foregoing reasons, the Council of the Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta”
Resolves:
Article 1: The Women and Democracy Order “Policarpa Salavarrieta” is bestowed upon Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia for the work undertaken in order to promote and advance breastfeeding in the Colombian territory as a sign of women’s empowerment, emphasizing their femininity and work as mothers.
Article 2: The President of the Legal Commission for Women’s Equity, Jezmy Lizeth Barraza Arraut, Representative from the Department of Atlántico, is commissioned to present the corresponding insignia and parchment to Liga de La Leche Colombia – LLLColombia at a special and solemn ceremony.
Article 3: The present resolution comes into force on its date of issue. Be it thus notified and obeyed.
Issued in Bogotá on December 14th, 2021.
Jezmy Lizeth Barraza Arraut Grand Master of the Order
Amanda Rodo González Rodríguez Lady Chancellor of the Order
Maria Cristina Rosado Saravia Chancellor of the Order
Photos: Courtesy of the Press House of Representatives.
