With assistance from IOM, the Attorney General's Office is today
handing over the mortal remains of loved ones killed by violence
perpetrated by illegal armed groups to 13 families.

With today's handover, the remains of 1,000 victims have been
identified and handed over to family members.

Acts of violence perpetrated by illegal armed groups have led to
the disappearance of thousands of persons. According to official
figures, as of June 2010, there were 30,710 cases of missing
persons under verification.  As of 31 July 2010, the remains
of 3,407 victims of violence have been found, of which 633 are
undergoing identification and 104 are waiting to be handed over to
family members.

Since 2006, IOM with funding from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) has been working with the
Colombian Government responding to inquiries from family members of
the victims and creating mechanisms to guarantee that these
families have access to the right to truth, justice and
reparation.

IOM is also working with the Attorney General's Office in
organizing and funding hand over ceremonies which have been held in
15 cities around the country.

According to the IOM Programme Coordinator, Camilo
Leguízamo, "One of the basic rights of these victims is the
right to truth.  With the handing over of the mortal remains
of their loved one, we are helping the families to know exactly
what happened to them, this allows them to begin their mourning and
healing process."

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: +57 1 639 7777

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