This week, representatives from all sectors of Colombian society
will come together at a Land Restitution Seminar, organized by IOM
and the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture, with funding from the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The seminar will benefit from contributions from IOM and other
international experts on land tenancy and restitution issues. It
will bring together some 30 representatives from the state
institutions, as well as local authorities, all political parties,
trade associations, trade unions, victims' organizations and
academia.

The speakers will present their ideas and recommendations on the
draft law, currently being considered by Congress, which is vital
for ensuring that the victims of dispossession, caused by the
violence of illegal armed groups, can now return to their lands and
regain ownership.

The seminar is part of the cooperation agreement signed between
IOM and the Ministry of Agriculture last month, which also includes
technical assistance for: the drafting of a national plan for Land
Restitution; the creation of a National Land System; a programme
for formalizing rural land ownership; support for the formulation,
management and execution of the Land Law; and the creation of rural
development programmes and institutional strengthening of entities
in the agricultural sector.

More than three million Colombians have been displaced leaving
behind their homes and land.  Through its Land Restitution
Policy, the Colombian government hopes to hand back some two
million hectares to the victims of violence.

Marcelo Pisani, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia says, "Part of
our work in providing technical advice to the Colombian Government
also includes creating spaces for public debate to help formulate
public policies.  Land restitution is an integral part of the
rural development policy and therefore it needs to be coordinated
in a way that ensures sustainability."

Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, United States
Ambassador to Colombia, Michael McKinley, the director of the
weekly magazine Semana, Alejandro Santos and Marcelo Pisani will
provide welcome remarks.

Key conclusions from the seminar will be presented to the
Minister of Agriculture.

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: +57 1 622-7774

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