The State of the World's Refugees 2006 - Chapter 7 Internally displaced persons: Box 7.4 Internal displacement in Colombia

State of the World's Refugees, 19 April 2006

With 2 to 3 million displaced persons, Colombia presents the highest number of internally displaced people in the western hemisphere, and the second largest displaced population in the world after Sudan. Most of the displacement is related to the country's four-decade-long internal armed conflict, the most protracted in Latin America. This 'dirty war' is a complex conflict fought primarily between left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and Colombian armed forces. But it also involves drug traffickers, landowners, and other legal and illegal interests.

"With 2 to 3 million displaced persons, Colombia presents the highest number of internally displaced people in the western hemisphere, and the second largest displaced population in the world after Sudan."

More than 40,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Colombia as a result of the armed conflict since 1990 alone. In recent years, Colombians have been fleeing over the country's borders in increasing numbers, most notably to Costa Rica and Ecuador (but also Panama and Venezuela) in the region, as well as to the United States and Europe. Since 2000, more than 100,000 Colombians have sought asylum abroad. But since 11 September 2001, states have adopted increasingly restrictive asylum policies, making it harder for Colombians to claim asylum. Although over 250,000 Colombians are thought to be currently seeking asylum abroad, many others have sought refuge abroad without seeking asylum.

However, the vast majority of those forced to flee are civilians who do not cross an international border, but become displaced within their own country. More than 1.5 million displaced persons are registered with the Colombian government, but NGOs estimate that the real figure is more than double this. Many displaced people within Colombia do not register for fear of being attacked, stigmatized or displaced again. Official sources claim that 74 per cent of the internally displaced are women and children. The Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement estimated that 288,000 Colombians were newly displaced during 2004, 39 per cent more than in 2003.

The vast majority of those displaced are dispersed rather than living in organized camps, and many seek anonymity in the country's big cities. Almost 40 per cent of the internally displaced have settled in and around the ten largest cities. Without official registration and proper identity documents, internally displaced persons often face difficulty in accessing basic government assistance, employment, healthcare and education. It has been estimated that only one in eight internally displaced pupils have returned to school after having been displaced. Displaced girls are more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and pregnancy than other teenagers.

Displacement has often been an end in itself rather than just a by-product of Colombia's conflict. For many years, both guerrillas and paramilitaries have depopulated rural areas and appropriated the land for political, economic and strategic gain. Upon seizing control of an area, armed groups often kill or displace civilians they suspect of supporting the opposing side. Human rights defenders frequently suffer a similar fate.

In recent years, indigenous communities and their leaders have increasingly been targeted by the irregular armed groups, who favour action against the civilian population over direct military confrontation. Although indigenous people represent only 2 to 3 per cent of Colombia's total inhabitants, they make up as much as 8 per cent of the county's internally displaced population. If the current trend persists, there is even concern that some of the smaller and more vulnerable groups may disappear altogether.

"Although indigenous people represent only 2 to 3 per cent of Colombia's total inhabitants, they make up as much as 8 per cent of the county's internally displaced population."

And the story does not end with initial displacement. In some areas, there have been reports of internally displaced young men being forcibly recruited into irregular armed groups. In the cities, large sections of the population are increasingly being drawn into gang warfare which replicates war allegiances and divisions at the national level, bringing with it intra-urban displacements. Internally displaced persons are becoming displaced a second and even a third time.

Colombia's legislation on internal displacement is among the most advanced in the world. The country's 1997 Law on Internal Displacement (Law 387) is consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, requiring the state to create policies and adopt measures for displacement prevention, attention and protection. But the problem is implementation, and in February 2004, Colombia's Constitutional Court issued a landmark judgement, which deemed government policy in this regard inadequate and unconstitutional.

"Colombia's legislation on internal displacement is among the most advanced in the world ... the problem is implementation"

The government does not register or recognize in official statistics those displaced by the fumigation campaign, those unwilling or unable to apply for assistance and those rejected under its strict criteria. The return of internally displaced persons, a priority for the administration of President Alvaro Uribe, has sometimes taken place despite the fact that the conditions which caused the displacements remain unchanged. Many return areas continue to be under the control of at least one irregular armed group and numerous returned internally displaced persons have been killed in recent years.

UNHCR established a permanent presence in Colombia in 1998. Uniquely, the organization's mandate in the country is concerned with the protection of internally displaced people, as well as with refugees and others of concern. UNHCR's work focuses on capacity-building activities, notably in strengthening the protection regime through documentation campaigns, human rights training, pedagogy projects and integration initiatives. Rather than provide emergency assistance for internally displaced persons itself, UNHCR reinforces civil society organizations that address these needs. In particular, NGOs and church groups have long played a crucial role in assisting internally displaced persons in Colombia.

"NGOs and church groups have long played a crucial role in assisting internally displaced persons in Colombia"

UNHCR follows a collaborative response to internal displacement by chairing the UN Thematic Group on Displacement. Partnerships have also been established with ECHO, ICRC, IOM, UNIFEM, several government departments including the one with responsibility for assisting the internally displaced (the Social Solidarity Network), and numerous NGOs. UNHCR's overall objective in relation to internally displaced persons in Colombia is to promote a comprehensive and coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis.

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