Initiated on Monday, August 10, the program brings together classes, field activities, and technical visits focused on addressing organized crime, territorial control, and criminal justice, while also providing participants with opportunities to engage with Colombian experiences, researchers, public officials, and institutions.

The first activity was led by Santiago Tobón, Professor of Economics at Universidad EAFIT and a researcher affiliated with Leme. During the session, Tobón presented the schedule planned for the week and the university’s structure. He also discussed historical and contemporary challenges in public security and criminal justice in Colombia, with a focus on the structure and territorial dynamics of organized crime in Medellín.

After the class, participants were welcomed at a reception marking the beginning of the academic activities at Universidad EAFIT.

On Tuesday, August 11, the program began with a class by Gustavo Duncan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Universidad de los Andes, on territorial control dynamics. The activity examined the control exercised by armed groups, considering their historical patterns and the differences between urban and rural contexts.

Next, Miguel La Rota, a lawyer and economist who graduated from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, led a class on criminal prosecution strategies. The session expanded the discussion on the mechanisms used by the justice system to address different forms of crime.

In the afternoon, Colombian director, screenwriter, and producer Felipe Martínez led a session on fieldwork and social mapping. The participants then visited Comuna 5, Castilla, also accompanied by Martínez. The activity allowed them to connect the content discussed in the classroom with observations of a territory shaped by different social and security dynamics.

The immersion continues through Friday, August 14. In the coming days, the program will continue with new classes, field activities, and technical visits focused on learning about different Colombian experiences in public security.