Colombians Demand 24 Hours Free From Violent Killings · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

Update (4 October, 2012):
Carlos Eduardo Valdés Moreno, director of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, reported [es] that there were 28 violent deaths in Colombia on October 2, 2012: “a day in Colombia usually means 79 violent deaths for the country, so we have lowered violent deaths in Colombia from 79 to 28, for a total of 51 deaths less.”
On October 2, 2012, and as part of the International Day of Non-Violence, several Colombians beckoned other citizens to celebrate 24-0, an initiative that aims to hail this day as one free from any violent deaths.
José Ignacio Navas [es] explains the origin of celebrating International Day of Non-Violence:
Con una campaña de 24 horas sin muertes violentas, los colombianos celebran el Día Internacional de la No Violencia, el cual se realiza cada 2 de octubre según lo establecieron las Naciones Unidas.
De esta forma, la organización internacional recuerda el natalicio del líder pacifista Mahatma Gandhi, quien encabezó el movimiento de la Independencia de la India y fue “pionero de la filosofía y la estrategia de la no violencia”.
With a campaign of 24 hours without violent deaths, Colombians celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence, which is held every October 2 in accordance with what has been established by the United Nations.
In this way, the international organisation remembers the anniversary of the birth of the pacifist leader Mahatma Gandhi, who headed the movement of India's Independence and was a “pioneer of philosophy and non-violence strategies”.
While the website of the initiative [es] describes the aim of the day: 0 violent deaths on October 2:
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“Nuestra meta es 0 muertes violentas porque ya lo hemos hecho, 0 muertes violentas en 24 horas sí es posible.Los datos de la Policía Nacional de Colombia lo ratifican: durante el 2011, 3 municipios registraron entre 7 y 21 días sin homicidios, 29 entre 170 y 298, 757 hasta 364 días y 333 municipios registraron todo el año, 365 días, 0 homicidios. ¿Cuál queremos que sea lacifra en 2012? Lograr de manera conjunta 0 muertes violentas durante 24 horas en todos los municipios del país”
“Our goal is 0 violent deaths because we have already achieved it, 0 violent deaths in 24 hours is definitely possible. The information provided by the National Police in Colombia confirm: during 2011, 3 local councils registered between 7 and 21 days without any homicides, 29 between 170 and 298, 757 up to 364 days and 333 local councils registered the whole year, 365 days, with 0 homicides. So what do we want the statistics to be in 2012? To achieve, together, 0 violent deaths within 24 hours across all local councils nation wide.”
Through Twitter [es] several citizens relayed, in real time, what was happening and expressed their optimism for the initiative.
The musician César López (@CesarLopezmusic) [es], one of the initiative's leaders, published:
@CesarLopezmusic: Nuestros hijos podrán decir de nosotros muchas cosas pero nunca que no lo intentamos. @24_0 @24_0Guatemala @240puertorico
@CesarLopezmusic: Our children will be able to say many things about us, but they cannot say that we never tried. @24_0 @24_0Guatemala @240puertorico
The actress Carolina Guerra (@carolinaguerram) [es] expressed her wish:
@carolinaguerram: SOLO POR HOY #24-0
@carolinaguerram: JUST FOR TODAY #24-0
Tuti Furlan (@TutiFurlan) [es] wrote:
@TutiFurlan: Hoy, antes de exigir #Paz debo revisar si yo la estoy dando, si la estoy viviendo, si la estoy promoviendo en cada paso que doy! @24_0
@TutiFurlan: Today, before demanding #Paz (“peace”) I have to check that I am giving it, if I am living it, if I am promoting it in every step I take! @24_0
In Bogotá, with the participation of various artists and musicians, both national and international, an event was put on that could be followed via streaming [es]. Under the hashtag #yocuidolavida (“I take care of life”) more opinions and reports from the day can be found.