Due to widespread violence and civil unrest in Santiago, Chile, this year’s Cochrane’s Colloquium was cancelled on Sunday 20 October 2019.

Our annual event would have featured a four-day wide-reaching scientific programme entitled ‘Embracing Diversity’ as well as a Gala Dinner open to all delegates on Thursday 24th October. Due to the cancellation, we are delighted to announce that all the pre-ordered food including catering provisions for a three-course Gala dinner has been donated to a local charity in Santiago.

Over the last few days, members from Cochrane Chile our Local Organizing Committee have been in contact with Movidos x Chile, a local, collaborative network of civil society organizations that focuses on coordinated action in response to humanitarian emergencies and disasters. Through this network, Cochrane Chile was connected with Corporación la Esperanza, who have successfully taken all the food from the Colloquium venue, CasaPiedra, for distribution to local good causes.

Corporación la Esperanza operates multiple drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities in Santiago free of charge to low-income patients and families, as well as running prevention programmes and public policy advocacy.

Through their work, they provide much-needed food supplies to approximately 100 people every day and recently they have had difficulty receiving new provisions due to the ongoing social unrest across Chile.

On receiving the supplies, they have expressed their heart-felt thanks and gratitude to all Cochrane delegates, members and supporters for this generous donation.

With our very best wishes,

Cochrane Chile and Santiago Colloquium’s Local Organizing Teams