More than 4,000 ex-combatants demobilized from illegal groups and
290, 000 victims of violence have benefited in the past years from
the process of Justice and Peace offered by the Colombian
government, and for which IOM provides assistance to the
demobilized to return to civilian life, as well as to victims of
violence to gain access to truth, justice and reparation.

Under the Colombian Government Law for Justice and Peace of
2005, and with funding from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), IOM Colombia has implemented
some 350 projects as part of its Support for the Community Focused
Reintegration Programme including opening nine regional offices of
the National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation (the
Colombian institution that leads the process of reparation for
victims of violence); assistance and information campaigns for
victims; and collective infrastructure repair projects in six
communities affected by the violence of illegal armed groups.

IOM has also provided support for the processing of more than
13,000 financial compensation claims that the Colombian Government
has authorized for relatives of victims of violence, has assisted
the Attorney General's Office in its investigations of the crimes
reported by victims, and has helped in the search for and handing
over of the remains of missing persons. IOM contributes its
technical assistance to help strengthen coordination amongst
Colombian State institutions responsible for assisting victims.

In the past five years, 299,551 people have been registered as
victims, 4,352 offenders have been identified and brought into the
process, 2,719 mass graves have been identified, and the remains of
3,299 missing persons have been exhumed.

Jose Angel Oropeza, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia said, "For
us it has been very satisfying to participate in a process that has
provided positive outcomes for the Colombian people and the
government, and which has especially helped victims of violence
have greater opportunities to access their right to truth, justice
and reparation."

According to Colombia's High Commissioner for Reintegration,
53,000 persons have demobilized from illegal armed groups; 35,000
of them as a result of negotiations between the Colombian
Government and the armed groups between 2003 and 2006.  The
demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) process
includes psychosocial support, income generation projects and
occupational training to ensure that the ex-combatants will not
return to illegal activities.

"The process of reintegration of ex-combatants and reparation
for violence perpetrated by illegal armed groups has been
recognized as one of the most complex processes of transitional
justice in the world and it can be used as an example for countries
that are still suffering from conflict," added Oropeza.

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: +57 1 622-7774

Email: "mailto:jgallo@iom.int">jgallo@iom.int