|
 Colombia has suffered more than 40 years of an internal conflict. A common characteristic in all administrations has been the conviction that only through legitimacy built upon a strict compliance of HR can the country move forward. HR permeates a broad range of issues and groups which include displaced persons, children victims of violence, trade unionists and human rights activists, amongst others. This wide scope signifies a great challenge.
In 2000, the Presidential Program for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law was created under the direct mandate of the Vice President. The objective of this program was to design a national policy that would include compliance and collaboration from different government institutions to continue building a national consensus for the respect of HR. Since its creation, the program has been evolving and it currently includes the participation of the Public Prosecutor General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la Nación), the Office of the Attorney General (Fiscalía General de la Nación), the Administrative Office of the Courts (Consejo Superior de la Judicatura), the Office of the Ombudsman (Defensoría del Pueblo), the National Planning Department (Departamento Nacional de Planeación), the Ministry of the Interior and Justice (Ministerio del Interior de Justicia), the National Institute of Prisons (Instituto Nacional de Prisiones) with the advise and recommendations of the UN High Commissioner Office for Human Rights in Colombia.
The international community has played a vital role in cooperating with initiatives on how to proceed. Countries such as the United States, UK, Canada, Sweden and Spain and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia have offered constant support and advice. Under President Uribe, a major step forward is being taken. Attending the advice of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, an ambitious initiative called Plan Nacional de Acción (PNA) has been put into action. This plan,which complies with the Viena Declaration and Action Plan signed by Colombia duringthe Second World Conference on Human Rights (June 1993) and the Ottawa Convention, develops a clear strategy to enhance the promotion and protectionof human rights by the State with an active participation of NGO’s, international community, civil society and multilateral institutions. Some concrete actionsthat have resulted from this plan include the creation of specialized working areas of attention and prevention such as the Inter- Agency Policy Coordination Office (Politicas y Coordinacion Interinstitucional), HR and IHL Monitoring Office (Observatorio de Derechos Humanos y DIH) and the National Action Plan on HR and IHL Office (Plan Nacional de Accion en DH y DIH) amongst others.Probably the most challenging of all institutional efforts has been the one ledby the Ministry of Defense. With the name Comprehensive HR and IHL Policy the Ministry and the National Security Forces are integrating high standards of HR respect and supervision into the actions of every soldier and police officer while simultaneously addressing the needs of all special groups ranging from indigenous and afro colombian communities to victims within the current Peace and Justice Law.
Overall, it is a top priority for the Governmentof Colombia to continue working thoroughly on improving every aspect of promotion and respect for HR and IHL. Complying with these objectives is crucial to continue building legitimacy and effectively reinstate the rule of law throughout the country.
In the following list of documents you´ll find more detailed information on Human Rights.
|
