Mario Guilombo “The People’s Champion”

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Nestled in a hidden corner of Jane and Finch, there are two portables, that at first glance may not seem of importance. It is on further investigation that I learned that it is the home to one of the largest Human Rights Organizations in the world, and it is run by a family, whose passion is focused on supporting disadvantaged immigrants who have been: harassed, wrongfully detained, tortured, or defamed.

The Canadian Human Rights International Organization (C.H.R.I.O) is a non-profit organization whose aim is to defend the fundamental rights, human value, dignity, and equality of men and women around the world. The family that stands behind this organization are Mario Guilombo, his wife Liliana Angarita, and his daughter Lilian Julieth Guilombo. Their story as a family could be a whole other article, but today, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to highlight the work of a man, who is recognized as “The people’s champion,” the one and only Mario Guilombo.

Born and raised in Columbia, Mario has a distinguished record of human rights advocacy in Canada. He is a lawyer and human rights activist who graduated from the Nueva Granada Military University with studies in human rights/international human rights, security and police sciences, forensic science, social work, psychology, international women’s health and human rights (Stanford University), and children’s human rights.

Mario and his family had to flee Columbia in 2001, after facing persecution for his humanitarian work. At that point he had no choice. Some of the criminals he was suing had broken his daughter’s legs. She was only five years old at the time. It was a matter of life or death at that point.

When he arrived in Canada, it didn’t take him long to begin the work that he was born to do. He started a project called Casa Latino Americana (now called Casa de las America), which he led until 2007.

Since then, he has established and spearheaded several organizations that support and assists victims of violence, discrimination, racism, and other human rights violations. He witnessed a lack of support for programs promoting human rights, and this motivated him to create the Collective Human Rights Defender “Laura Acosta” International Organization of COHURIDELA (www.corhuridela.com), which supports disadvantaged immigrants.

Since arriving in Canada as a refugee, Mario has worked to support over 22,000 families. In 2008, he submitted a fifteen-year plan to help improve Columbia’s National Plan of Action. In doing so, he has been able to develop campaigns to support families’ and has promoted programs for children, youth and seniors.

His list of awards is a mile long, but to get a better snapshot of the type of man Mario Guilombo is, I thought it important to include some of them:

In 2009, he was one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Recipients for the defence of human rights and community support of immigrants

2010, Recipient of Recognitions by members of the Federal and Provincial Parliament and Municipal councillors for support in the defence of human rights

2011, Recipient of the Premier Ontario Recognition for Outstanding Community Service

Again in 2011, he received the Prime Minister Recognition as New Pioneers of Canada

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, he received Volunteer Service Awards

He was the Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

2015, he was the Recipient of the Caring Canadian Governor’s General Award

2019, he was recognized as the best Human Rights Defence Lawyer

This is a very short list of what Mario has been recognized for, but when you look at the work that he does outside of C.H.R.I.O, and COHURIDELA, you will truly have a glimpse at the heart of this man. His extra-curricular activities include:

Speaking in the Columbian Congress about the Columbian Human Rights Code, and the creation of a Ministry of Human Rights

He is a human rights speaker, and speaks regularly on human rights and their protection

Is the author behind the Columbian Human Rights Code project, as well as the Ministry of Human Rights project in Columbia

Authored the Human Rights Advocacy as Human Rights book (Citizenship and Immigration in Canada)

He is a human rights trainer, advocate and speaker on preventing elder abuse

Is the author behind the Venezuelan Human Rights Code project, as well as the Ministry of Human Rights in Venezuela project

I asked him about how life had been for him during COVID-19.

“It did not slow down here at all Simone. Human rights don’t take a day off. My family, and myself we continued to help people during the pandemic. Yes, people could not come to us directly like they usually do, but we were able to do most of our work over the phone, or via email.

I actually have a few projects on the go right now; I have put together a Regularization proposal, which advocates on behalf of the estimated 500,000 families living in Canada without status.

I am also addressing the plight of the Skilled Immigrants. We have identified  several barriers that skilled immigrants face in Canada in regard to finding employment suited to their skills.

There are also some larger projects that I have taken on, more notably the alarm at Bill C-97. This Bill will make a person ineligible to claim as a refugee in Canada. This means that numerous refugee claimants, who may need Canada’s protection because they face persecution, torture or death in their country of origin will be denied access to Canada’s refugee determination system.

The work does not stop!”

He also shared his project, Project Promotion of Girls’ Rights to life and education; Fight against Pregnancies and Abortions in African High Schools, and the support that is being provided for thousands of families in Venezuela and Nicaragua.

There is so much to say about this man, but I thought I would end it with two quotes that appear on the back of his card:

“If I help one person to have hope, I will not have lived in vain.”

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“Life’s most Persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.