Pictures of the Year International

Liria Cheito attempted to commit suicide with her paruma (a traditional garment of her community) on April 7, 2023, tired of being mistreated by her husband. She is the mother of three children in the Embera Dobida community of Puerto Antioquia, Chocó. The "Jaidë" project is a visual investigation into the suicide crisis in indigenous communities in Colombia, focusing on the Cubeo people in Vaupés and the Emberá in Bojayá. This crisis is worsened by armed conflict, forced displacement, and the loss of access to essential resources like agriculture and fishing. The situation reflects an alarming level of hopelessness in these historically marginalized communities. In Bojayá, Chocó, data reveals a severe crisis. From 2015 to 2020, there were 15 reported suicides, which worsened significantly from 2021 to 2023, with 41 suicides and over 1,500 attempts. Stories like that of Yadira Birry, a 16-year-old who took her life, and Liria Cheito, who survived a suicide attempt on the same day as Yadira, illustrate the intense pain and despair in these communities. In Vaupés, the crisis is equally dire. The suicide rate here is the highest in Colombia, with 68 cases reported in 2023, mainly among youths aged 10 to 19. This high rate underscores the urgent need for intervention and support. Government neglect and the lack of preventive programs have exacerbated the crisis. The Emberá community has migrated to cities like Bogotá in search of safety. In Bogotá, around 2,251 Emberá live in extreme overcrowding in neighborhoods such as Parque Nacional, La Rioja, and Parque La Florida. The La Rioja building, meant for 120 people, houses over 1,200, resulting in critical overpopulation. I have documented the lives of Yadira Birry's family and Liria Cheito in Bojayá, and followed displaced Emberá women Jessi and Ahitana in Bogotá. These experiences highlight the severe conditions and scale of the problem. Having struggled with depression myself, I reflect on how these communities, devastated by armed conflict and state abandonment, cope with overwhelming pain. "Jaidë" aims to document this crisis and provide a space for reflection and dialogue. The project seeks to offer a comprehensive view of the crisis, showing both suffering and resilience, and to promote understanding and solutions for these urgent issues.