IOM is supporting the social and economic reintegration of
ex-combatants through employment training in road safety and
business management skills.

Under an agreement signed between IOM Colombia and the "Fondo de
Prevención Vial" or Fund for Transport Safety, about USD
763,000 will be allocated to recruiting and training demobilized
members of illegal armed groups, as civilian auxiliaries for a
Colombian highway safety and assistance programme. The Fund is a
private sector organization working in coordination with Colombian
government institutions such as the Ministry of Transport and the
National Police.

Through the SALVAVÍAS programme initiated in 2006,
hundreds of men and women involved in the social reintegration
process have been recruited and trained to help in preventing
accidents on the country's principal roads.

"The fact that these ex-combatants have chosen to become
civilian auxiliaries is a demonstration of their firm commitment to
civil society," states José Ángel Oropeza, Chief of
Mission of IOM Colombia.

In the northern mountain region of Montes de Maria, 250
farm-working families in eight towns which have been heavily
affected by violence from illegal armed groups have signed an
agreement to supply produce for Carrefour, one of the largest
supermarket chains in Colombia.

The agreement marks an initial success for the avocado producers
and their families, beneficiaries of an IOM programme training the
farmers on optimal crop handling and business organization. The
initiative has improved quality standards in order to meet those
demanded by supermarkets, expanding the market and earning
potential for these families; the growers who previously received
an average of 100-400 pesos per kilo of avocados, will earn 2,300
pesos per kilo through the agreement. 

"The economic stability of the victims of the violence is very
important for their welfare, as is their psychological and social
recovery. Therefore it is a great pleasure for us to develop
projects that achieve significant commercial success like this
one," says Oropeza.

Since 2006 IOM has assisted the Government of Colombia to
reintegrate 51,000 demobilized members of illegal armed groups,
through the Programme of Support for the Community Focused
Reintegration Process, and with funding from the US Agency for
International Development. One of the key elements of the
reintegration process is income generation and employment for those
who have been demobilized as well as for the victims of violence
and the host communities.

For more information, please contact:

Natalia Vargas Meneses

Media and Public Information

IOM Bogotá

Tel: 639-7777 Ext. 1733

E-mail: "mailto:nvargas@iom.int">nvargas@iom.int