Colombia - The ranks of Colombians demobilized from armed groups continue to grow. In 2014 a total of 2,360 demobilized people in the process of reintegration took part in community infrastructure projects including building bridges, renovating parks and re-modelling schools – projects which benefited over 135,000 Colombians in 30 departments around the country.

The number of projects undertaken by demobilized people last year doubled from 2013, when 987 demobilized former combatants participated in these activities.

The community service projects for reconciliation and forgiveness, coordinated by the Colombian Reintegration Agency (ACR by its Spanish acronym), are supported by IOM and USAID.

Among the communities benefitting from these projects are those affected by the armed conflict and others that lack basic services.  Residents in these communities include: 22,669 (16.7 per cent) internally displaced; 1,267 identified as indigenous, 1,885 with physical disabilities; 30,143 under 18; 2,370 elderly; and 1,564 female heads of household.

“At the beginning we did not trust the projects because paramilitary groups caused us a great deal of harm, from disappearances to kidnappings and extortion.  But with time, we realized that the people who came to do the projects were committed to changing their lives and that made us think that forgiveness was possible.  We are grateful for the help they provided,” said Sonia Presa, Miramar (Buenaventura) Community Action Board President, who lives in a community that benefited from the construction of three stilt bridges that now bring together neighborhoods.

“For IOM, it is important that the country knows about these projects, because they are being done voluntarily by demobilized people in the process of reintegration, and without remuneration.  These projects definitely contribute to reconciliation,” said Alejandro Guidi, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia.

Sixty per cent of the demobilized population, concentrated in five departments, participated in community service activities through the IOM/USAID/ACR partnership.  Antioquia had the highest number with 596 demobilized certified for community service; followed by Córdoba with 302; then Huila with 210; Santander with 155; and Magdalena with 146.

“This partnership represents the possibility of providing a service that really has a positive impact in the community, while also providing the demobilized people with the tools and materials necessary to reconstruct parks, cultural centers, or public spaces that help to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities,” added ACR Director Joshua Mitrotti.

“This is a way of asking for forgiveness and feeling that we are part of the community again, part of a family, and those are the things that you miss the most when you are in the mountains [in the illegal armed groups].  I helped a centre for the elderly, providing nursing services, because that is what I like doing and what I know how to do,” explained Adriana Rivas, a demobilized person from the AUC who is now a nurse and did her community service in Monteria.

Colombia’s armed conflict has lasted more than 50 years and has left 220,000 people dead, mostly civilians.  In 2003, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the main paramilitary group, negotiated their collective demobilization under Law 975 or the Justice and Peace Law. It has over 35,000 ex-combatants in the government reintegration programme, who must participate in community service. 

In addition, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), another armed group, have been negotiating a peace agreement in Havana for more than two years.

There are currently 56,541 demobilized former combatants. Some 21,229 of them are active in the government reintegration programme and 8,068 have already fulfilled the requirements to successfully graduate from the programme.

For more information, please contact

Jadin Vergara

IOM Colombia

Tel: + (571) 6397777 Ext. 1715

Email: jvergara@iom.int