Camilo Mejía

Columbian ex-soldier turned peacebuilder creating reconciliation frameworks

Camilo Mejía is a former U.S. soldier who became a leading advocate for veterans' rights and post-conflict reconciliation in Colombia. After serving in Iraq, he deserted his post in 2003 to protest the war, becoming the first U.S. soldier to publicly refuse deployment. Founding VeteransBridge in 2014, he pioneered the 'Truth and Reconciliation for Warriors' program that facilitated dialogue between Colombian FARC guerrillas and military veterans. His work led to the creation of the Demobilization Network, supporting over 15,000 ex-combatants in reintegrating into society. Mejía's 2016 book 'Warrior to Peacemaker: A Soldier's Journey' became required reading in U.S. military ethics programs. He developed the Healing Through Service model adopted by UN peacekeeping missions, linking community service with PTSD recovery. His testimony before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2018 influenced Colombia's 2019 Veterans Equity Act. Recently honored by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee as an 'Architect of Hope,' his methodologies are now used in post-conflict zones from Nigeria to Myanmar.