Two new Reconciliation Centres will provide assistance to some
1,500 residents of impoverished neighbourhoods in Colombia’s
capital, Bogota, during the reconciliation process of welcoming
victims of violence and persons demobilized from illegal armed
groups.

At the opening ceremony, amid hugs and tears, a group of
demobilized individuals received forgiveness from victims of forced
displacement and persecution, who are also beneficiaries of the
project.

The Reconciliation Centres are physical and social spaces aimed
at promoting the vital role of civil society in fomenting a culture
of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. 

"IOM hopes that the Centres will help generate a favourable
environment for demobilized combatants to be socially reintegrated
into civilian life, so they can live side by side and in harmony
with displaced persons and victims of violence," said José
Angel Oropeza, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia.

Bogota is one of the cities hosting a large number of
demobilized, internally displaced and victims of the armed
conflict.  Currently there are 2,450 demobilized individuals
living in the Colombian capital that are receiving assistance from
the Colombian government to reintegrate.

According to Colombia’s High Commissioner for
Reintegration 51,000 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.

In 2006, IOM began implementing its Community-Oriented
Reintegration Assistance Programme with funding from the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID).  The
programme supports the Government’s Peace Process by helping
demobilized persons and their families to reintegrate into civilian
life, and victims gain access to truth, justice and
compensation. 

So far, 129 projects have been approved helping some 60,000
persons including the demobilized, their families, the receiving
communities and victims of the illegal armed groups.

The Centres were built with financial support from USAID and the
Mayor’s Office of Bogota with technical support from IOM.

The project was developed under the programme Schools of
Forgiveness and Reconciliation (ES.PE.RE. by its Spanish acronym),
part of Foundation for Reconciliation, which aims to foster a
culture of peaceful coexistence using such as transitional justice,
and restoration of property and rights, amongst others.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Andrés Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel. + 5715946410 Ext. 142

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