Project description

Title: Support for the Organization of American States for Victim Assistance in Colombia
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Colombia
Lead executing agency: Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz (MAPP) de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA)
Overall term: 2008 to 2011

Context

Colombia’s development is marked by violent internal conflict between various non-state actors and the state security forces that has persisted for several decades. In August 2002, a government reintegration programme was launched to reintegrate into civilian life members of the illegal groups wishing to give up armed struggle. Between 2002 and 2008, around 47,000 former combatants, including 33,000 members of the paramilitary AUC (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia), opted for demobilisation. The framework for investigating and dealing with the crimes committed as well as for reparation and reconciliation is provided by the Justice and Peace Law (Ley Justicia y Paz, 975) of 2005.

In response to a request by the Colombian government, the Organization of American States (OAS) set up an international peacekeeping mission to implement the justice and peace process in Colombia (Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz en Colombia de la Organización de los Estados Americanos – MAPP/OEA). MAPP/OEA is one of the most important international actors working to support the justice and peace process in Colombia by providing advisory services and being actively involved in political implementation.

Objective

MAPP/OEA is supported financially in its victim protection work. Victims have better access to the justice and peace process.

Approach

MAPP/OEA received support through grant disbursement agreements, which were used to carry out measures such as a project to strengthen victims’ groups. The project involved raising awareness of victims’ rights within the justice and peace process, bringing together government institutions and civil society, building mutual confidence, involving victims in the process, creating a network for victims’ groups and developing a support model.

Since 2009, the MAPP/OEA has been receiving support in guiding communities affected by violence as well as individual victims, and in their work with government institutions, with the aim of strengthening their competences and performance capacity in the region. The victims are also given support and guidance to ensure they have access to the justice and peace process and receive reparation.

Results achieved so far

Eight victims’ associations have been created in two regions in the country. These associations actively take part in the Justice and Peace process together with selected representatives from leading civil society organisations and at least twenty government institutions. Having representatives from these institutions and civil society organisations sitting at the same table discussing victims’ issues and needs with regard to the implementation of the Justice and Peace Law is a notable achievement. The civil society representatives are recognised as legitimate partners of the government institutions, and are also to be included in interinstitutional consultation groups. They were able to utilise their capacities as multipliers in a variety of ways in their own municipalities.

Given its success, the measure, which was initiated as a pilot measure, has been implemented in other regions throughout Colombia. The government of the department also wants to implement the model in other communities.

Some achievements in figures

• Three victims’ organisations were set up in the department of Norte de Santander. Together with 20 institutions and civil society representatives, they are participating actively in the justice and peace process. 
• In the department of Norte de Santander, a series of guidelines and instruments were prepared for the gender-specific training of 79 civil society actors. The participants will act as multipliers of victim advisory services in their municipalities.
• In the department of Cesar, five victims’ organisations were created, representing 1,060 victims.