The Institute for Humanitarian Studies (IEH, by its Spanish
acronym), linking academia, civil society and international
organizations operating in Colombia, was inaugurated this week in
Bogota.

The main focus of the IEH will be to promote research on
humanitarian issues in order to improve decisions and policies and
the quality of humanitarian assistance provided to Colombians in
need.

The Institute will also provide a space for humanitarian
agencies and academia to discuss issues of concern and propose
solutions to humanitarian challenges that arise as a result of
research carried out by IEH.

IOM Colombia is part of the IEH Governing Board, which is made
up of three organizations from each sector. The Universidad
Industrial de Santander, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and
the Universidad Santo Tomás represent the academic sector.
NGOs are represented by The Fundación Restrepo Barco, Plan
International and Visión Mundial. International
organizations are represented by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and IOM. The Board will change every
year.

So far, IEH working groups have been set up in Bogotá,
Bucaramanga, Cúcuta and Medellín.At the international
level, IEH will link up with recognized universities in the United
States and Europe, by promoting an exchange of teachers on
humanitarian issues and enabling recognized researchers from
international universities to travel to Colombia. 

In 2007, IOM programmes in Colombian benefitted more than
350,000 persons.  Since 2000, IOM programmes in Colombia have
provided assistance to more than two millions persons, including
internally displaced persons, host communities, Colombians seeking
protection across international borders, victims of natural
disasters, ex combatant minors, adults demobilized from illegal
armed groups, victims of trafficking, labour migrants, as well as
Colombian authorities who have participated in IOM
trainings.   

IOM activities in Colombia are funded by the Colombian
Government, the private sector, and international cooperation
agencies.

For further information contact:

Jorge Andres Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: 57.311 5619495 or 57.1.5946410 ext.142

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@oim.org.co">jgallo@oim.org.co