TWAILR Academy 2023 Bogotá brings together international law scholars and practitioners to address global challenges with a particular focus on issues in the Global South and Colombia. The aim is to democratize international law and engage in decolonizing efforts. The Academy includes lectures, discussions, and writing workshops for emerging scholars, graduate students, and legal practitioners to share their perspectives and receive feedback on scholarly projects.
The Academy is organized by TWAIL Review and hosted by Universidad de los Andes Faculty of Law, in partnership with the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and Maynooth University School of Law & Criminology, with support from Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Afronomicslaw. The objectives of the Academy are to provide participants with opportunities to share Third Worldist perspectives, build solidarity among scholars, and produce innovative knowledge freely accessible worldwide.
The Academy runs from Monday, July 17th to Thursday, July 20th 2023. All relevant and important materials relating to TWAILR Bogotá Academy will be shared on this page. The page will be constantly updated as the Academy approaches.
Resources for Participants
Entering Colombia
Do I need a visa?
Please consult the following link for visa exceptions:
https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa/lista-a-b-c
The page is in Spanish, but it can be translated automatically through google. If your passport is not listed, please apply for a visa. This process must be completed 60 business days before the trip. The cost for this is approximately 55 USD for the study visa and 177 USD for the general visa. The Universidad de Los Andes will help you in this process.
ALL PARTICIPANTS must fill out the following form with their relevant information:
https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/8WSX8TY
Once this form is submitted, Universidad de Los Andes will process the documents needed to help you apply for the visa.
Visa applications are the responsibility of each participant.
What if I am exempt from needing a visa?
All participants must fill out this form with their information:
https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/8WSX8TY
Once this is submitted, Universidad de Los Andes will process the PIP invitation letter and provide you with a contact for future correspondence.
A PIP Entry and Permanence Permit must be processed for all participants to enter the country who are not required to process a visa. It is a special permit granted by Migration Colombia for foreigners who come to the country to participate in academic events. There is no cost.
If this is required, Universidad de Los Andes will send the traveler an invitation letter. This must be printed and presented at Migration Colombia upon arrival in the country so that the immigration officer can stamp your passport. Once this is completed, the traveler must send a photo of this stamp to their Universidad de Los Andes contact. Contact details will be provided closer to the date.
Emergency Insurance
All participants must have international emergency insurance. The insurance costs approximately $55,000 COP for people under 60 years of age.
You must pay the cost of the insurance.
Travel Resources for International Participants
The Bogotá airport is El Dorado International Airport (BOG). The university is accessible from the airport by taxi, rideshare apps (such as Uber), or by bus.
Funded Participants (Submit Forms by 11:59PM EST May 7th)
To fulfill our goal of amplifying voices from the Global South and improving the accessibility of TWAIL across the world, some participants have been granted funding for travel to and from the Academy.
If you have been granted funding, please fill out and submit the following form BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF 11:59PM EST on May, 7 2023 to ensure that your funding is granted:
Funded Participants’ Traveler Information
The University’s address is Cra. 1 #18a-12, La Candelaria, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia, on the eastern side of Bogotá.
Your Stay in Bogotá *UPDATED*
We are delighted to have you visit Bogotá and participate in our upcoming event. To ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience, we wanted to provide information regarding our city’s weather, altitude, transportation, currency exchange and some places of interest.
Weather Conditions: We expect an approximate temperature range of 10º – 20ºC (50º-65ºF) during the event dates. The chances of rain are high and the temperature gets low during the night.
Altitude Considerations: Bogotá is situated at an altitude of 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) above sea level, nestled in the Andes Mountain range. As one of the highest capital cities in the world, it’s essential to be aware of the potential impact of altitude on visitors. Bogotá’s high altitude can make some individuals prone to altitude sickness. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and difficulty sleeping. While not everyone is affected, it is essential to be mindful of this possibility. To help mitigate the risk of altitude sickness, we recommend that you stay hydrated, don’t run and avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption for the first few days. Drinking coca leaf tea can help alleviate symptoms in the interim. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns about altitude sickness, we advise you to consult your healthcare provider before traveling.
Transportation from the airport and around the city:
1. Taxi service
The easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport is to take one of the official taxis (the company is: Taxi Imperial). There are many unofficial taxis that we do not recommend using. The official taxis have counters in the Arrivals Halls. The journey to the city center takes between 30 and 40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Generally, the taxi must be paid in cash (credit card is not accepted). The transfer from or to the airport will cost approximately between $25,000 and $39,000 Colombian pesos depending on the distance to your destination (there are surcharges for night service or on holidays). Yellow and white taxis are available 24 hours. Bogotá taxis display a meter that starts from the number 25 and increases by one digit every hundred meters. At the end of the journey, the number displayed on the meter corresponds to the fare you must pay. A tariff should be hanging from the back of the front passenger seat, indicating the number and corresponding fare.
2. Apps
Other transport apps like Uber, Cabify or Didi are available at Bogotá Airport and are safe options. Although there is currently no designated special area, the pick-up point is usually the left side of the Arrivals lane. In any case, it is advised to coordinate with the driver beforehand through the app (note that the driver most likely does not speak English). Payment is handled by credit card through the app. We recommend using these apps during your stay in Bogota. Alternatively you may ask the hotel or restaurant to call a taxi for you (instead of taking a taxi on the street). Through these apps you can request to use a taxi or a private vehicle.
3. Bus service
Alternatively, you can consider using Transmilenio, the main public transport system in Bogotá. You can have a guide in English here.
Currency Exchange: For currency exchange, the best option is to use exchange houses, which you can find in malls and in the airport (although it can be more expensive). Most restaurants, shops and hotels accept credit cards. You can also withdraw money at ATMs that are easily found at the airport or in the city (including on the university campus). We recommend reviewing the relevant fees and terms with your bank.
Places of interest (close to the University):
Museo del Oro
Address: Carrera 6ª Calle 16
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. *Closed on Mondays.
Cost: 4000 pesos
More information: http://www.banrepcultural.org/museo-del-oro
Museo de Botero
Address: Calle 11 No. 4-41, Bogotá
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. *Closed on Tuesdays Sundays and holidays: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
More information: http://www.banrepcultural.org/museo-botero
Casa Museo Quinta de Bolivar
Address: Calle 21 No 4A – 30 Este
Opening hours: Tuesdays – Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. *Closed on Mondays
Cost: Colombians: $6000COP, foreigners: 10USD
More information: http://www.quintadebolivar.gov.co/Paginas/english.aspx
La Candelaria Neighborhood and Historic Center:
La Candelaria is a colonial neighborhood of Bogota situated in the historic center. Here the city was founded on August 6th, 1538. It is an important touristic, educational, and commercial center of the city.
More Information: http://www.lacandelaria.info
Cerro de Monserrate:
The sanctuary of Monserrate is in downtown Bogotá, very close to the historic center of Bogotá. The site offers a beautiful view over the city. You can go up on foot, use the funicular or the cable car. To see the schedules and costs check the links below.
Address: Calle 21 No 4A – 30 EsteCalle 21 No 4A – 30 Este
More information:
https://colombia.travel/en/bogota/sanctuary-monserrate & https://monserrate.co/en/frequently-asked-questions/
Artesanias de Colombia: It is a place that contributes to the integral improvement of artisanal activity through the rescue and preservation of trades and tradition, promoting competitiveness by supporting research, product development, transfer of methodologies, marketing and commercialization; all in a context of decentralization and development of local and regional capacities, in a way that ensures the sustainability of artisanal activity and the well-being of artisans, its warehouses are located in the following sectors:
Almacén Las Aguas (closest to the University): Calle 18 A # 1 – 06
Academic Workshop Materials
Workshop Draft Details
Participants must complete and submit a working draft of your contribution by Friday, June 2, 2023, to TWAILR.SummerSchool@gmail.com. The length of your submission could be either a journal article or a short reflection. For more details please see the TWAILR submission guidelines.
Working drafts will be the basis of your participation in the writing workshops during the academy. Selected contributions may be published in TWAIL Review and Afronomics Law.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions are to be drafted according to TWAILR submission guidelines.
Readings and Other Resources
The list of readings to be completed prior to the Academy are now available at this password-protected link. Please check your emails from the Academy Organizers for the password, or contact us for help. Two of the pieces are available in Spanish through the same link.