IOM Colombia Projects: Post-Emergency Migration Management

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1 IOM Colombia Projects: Post-Emergency Migration Management Protection of Patrimonial Assets of Colombia s Internally Displaced Population Donors: Social Solidarity Network, World Bank, Swedish International Development Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Government of Colombia Department of Norte de Santander Personnel from Public Notary offices were trained in land protection routes, through different workshops in the cities of Barranquilla, Medellín, Armenia and Bogotá. Staff from Offices for Registry of Public Instruments in Bogotá and Medellin were provided with training in land protection mechanisms. The monitoring and evaluation system for budget follow-up was updated. Colombian Congress recently approved Law 1152/2007. This law changed land regulations regarding the project, therefore having a direct impact on project implementation. Inter-institutional Cooperation between IOM and the Social Solidarity Network Donor: Social Solidarity Network The sub-project "Integral support for socioeconomic establishment of the Indian communities Alto Andagueda, Department of Choco was succesfully completed. Integrated Humanitarian Assistance Support to Internally Displaced Persons and Other Vulnerable Groups in Colombia (Programme to Assist IDPs and Vulnerable Groups) through the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF) A total of seven projects were approved in the areas of income generation, institutional strengthening, emergencies, housing, investigation and studies and education. The project attracted new donors from the public and private sectors. Contributions from other IOM Bogotá projects and third parties were obtained as well as community participation in construction activities. Assistance was provided to 99,668 new beneficiaries in health, employment training, emergency assistance, education, food security, housing and institutional strengthening. Post-Emergency Assistance to Internally Displaced People in Colombia Donor: Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internacional (Acción Social) The government agency Acción Social signed an Agreement with IOM, allocating some USD 60 million. Initial expenditures will allow 22,500 IDP families to participate in incomegeneration projects. Several private entities and NGOs were invited to present proposals for eligibility in order to provide IDP assistance in accordance with the components agreed upon by the donor and IOM. Strengthening Peace in Colombia Construction of Community Centres Donor: Government of Colombia through National Solidarity Network The project concluded activities. It is working on the necessary administrative and financial closure activities which include 15 sub-projects with civilians and support to the Colombian government. The inauguration of the Community Centre in the Municipality of Tibú (Norte de Santander) took place in August; coverage will be provided to 40,000 direct benficiaries. Furthermore, the Community Centres in the municipalities of Baranoa (Atlántico), La Dorada (Caldas) and Arauquita (Arauca) are 95 per cent completed; the centres are to be inaugurated during the following months. These are being equipped and furnished, and the library service will be administered by Municipal authorities; local private partners contribute funds for the libraries. Institutional strengthening of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice includes technical support to the Government Office in charge of demobilization and reintegration policies for excombatants. IOM s assistance contributed to the operation of the service centres for demobilized combatants.

2 The National Prosecutor s Unit for Justice and Peace was assisted with the supply and design of the necessary mechanisms to involve victims of violence with the proceedings established by Law 975/2005. Activities to strenghthen the National Prosecutor s Unit for Justice and Peace of the National Prosecutor s Office is taking place. These aim to guarantee the rights of the victims to truth, justice and reparation. Assistance to Vulnerable Population in Association with Private Partners Donor: National Broadcasting Network Caracol Radio The project concluded with several activities that benefited different indigenous communities from the Sierra Nevada Region. Along with the Ombudsman from the Municipality of Valledupar, training workshops on Human Rights were provided as part of the closing activities. Project activities were also accompanied by the Municipal Health Office, which provided vaccines and general health services. Activities benefited 55 children from indigenous communities from the Region. Aided communities do not have frequent access to these types of services, therefore the project was highly acknowledged for its efforts. Psychological and Social Support to Ex-combatants in Medellín Donor: John Ramirez Foundation Beneficiaries were given tests to determine their vocational profiles. These tests collected beneficiary information regarding their personality, basic education skills and self-motivation towards employment. The purpose of this exercise was to associate beneficiaries from the National Reintegration Programme with the labour demand within the private/public sector. Bi-monthly follow-up visits took place along with 789 workshops for 484 beneficiaries who benefited from temporary and long-term work positions. During this period, 50 productive initiatives were assessed. Community Oriented Reintegration of Ex-combatants in Colombia Activities concerning the Referral and Opportunity Centres (CRO) and the Tracking, Monitoring, and Evaluation System (TMES) currently have 17 operating regional offices. During this period, the offices provided support in 38 demobilization registry visits nationwide. The support to the Colombian Government s Reintegration Programme currently manages four sub-projects, two with the Mayor s Office of Medellín and two with private communications institutes. The work with the National Ombudsman s Office includes the continued strengthening of State inter-institutional work, resulting in: (a) the production of performance and procedure protocol manuals and (b) the development of several tracking and follow-up mechanisms for IOM support activities carried out by consultants on a local and regional level. Additionally, the General Attorney worked with the Delegate for Penal Matters and the Delegate for the Prevention of Violation to Human Rights and Ethnic Issues in constructing a tracking model for the demobilized population in the reintegration process. These activities allowed the identification of different roles and information concerning State entities and agencies involved in judicial proceedings regarding the Justice and Peace Law. The project supports demobilized and vulnerable population, currently managing 31 subprojects in both rural and urban areas. These projects cover categories such as job creation, industrial manufacturing, agricultural production, investment and development, psycho-social and integrated assistance. The Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA) regional office staff and mobile team members carried out over 400 site visits to 64 communities in order to capture data on post-demobilization verification. Additionally, five new sub-projects and thirteen new initiatives were developed, resulting in the production of numerous books, documents, studies, reports, and videos. Assistance to the National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation (NCRR) currently handles six sub-projects and has five regional offices that are fully operational. Regional NCRR staff in Antioquia provided assistance to approximately 2,000 victims; in addition, a general outline was established for similar activities around the country. A non-cost agreement for reconciliation projects was signed with the Mayor s Office of Bogotá.

3 Other project activities focused on work with the National Prosecutor s Office. It currently manages two sub-projects. One project focused on the task of processing and concluding judicial proceedings and hearings related to the crimes established in Law 782. The other project develops mechanisms aimed at providing assistance and tracking of victims covered by Law 975/05. This seeks the active participation of victims in the reparation and reconciliation process. Development of Access, Disclosure and Notice Mechanisms to Victims in the Implementation of the Justice and Peace Law (975/05) Donor: Government of Canada The project contributed to strengthen the National Unit for Justice and Peace of the National Prosecutor s Office. For two months it provided mechanisms to promote victims participation in the reconciliation process established by Law 975/2005. Information regarding project activities and objectives was disseminated through different media and communication channels. Support and Strengthening of Public Institutions Responsible for Reincorporation Policies Donor: Royal Embassy of the Netherlands The Referral and Opportunity Centers (CROs) assisted by IOM provided assistance to 834 individually demobilized persons oriented by the Government Agency leading the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Colombia. The Centres provided the following services: psycho-social, health, basic education, labor training, work positioning, and complementary activities in family and community networking matters. Furthermore, the project provided workshops on orientation and training for 300 demobilized youths, with previously identified labour profiles. Training was provided for 204 youths in the following occupations: sales, logistics operator, dressmaker, service technician, motorcycle mechanic, cattle ranching. Reintegration and Community Development Programme for the Departments of Antioquia and Sucre Donors: USAID and the ARGOS Foundation Identification and participation of 280 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Puerto Triunfo (120 beneficiaries), Puerto Nare (80 beneficiaries) and San Onofre (80 beneficiaries). Psycho-social assistance and workshops took place in Puerto Triunfo and San Onofre Project sites, immediately after the inaugural events carried out by IOM. Technical activities for the sub-project in Puerto Triunfo seek to generate income for 120 beneficiaries. Construction of an Inter-sector Response in Sexual and Reproductive Health Donor: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The Global Fund Programme officially launched in Bogota, the second phase of the communication strategy within the framework of the fair and workshops on social, cultural and income-generation initiatives with 146 beneficiary youths. The strategy aims to promote: (a) protection factors amongst adolescents and youths, in relation to Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS, (b) youth-friendly health services at the local level and (c) visibility of the project financed by the Global Fund in Colombia. Project funding was obtained for social, cultural and income-generation micro projects in 48 municipalities within Colombia. In total, 231 social, cultural and income-generation micro projects were up and running, directly benefiting 1,575 youths. Technical support and sub-recipient support was provided through 181 field visits to the 48 selected Municipalities.

4 Institutional Strengthening for the National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation (NCRR) Donor: Royal Embassy of the Netherlands, Government of Canada, Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) IOM provided support to the NCRR Medellín and Barranquilla offices and partial support for the Sincelejo office, including database and judicial routing design for victims. Contracting of two Advisors and three Commissioners to undertake investigative work for the NCRR. Judicial route was designed and materials related to victims access to the judicial proceedings were disseminated. Prevention and Assistance to Underage Ex-combatant Children Donor: Government of Canada through CIDA During Phase One of the project, 1,592 youths took part in the implementation of the Vulnerability, Risk, and Opportunity Map Methodology (MVRO) that helped identify the risks, protection and prevention needs of communities afflicted by the armed conflict. In Phase Two, the number of participating youths was higher than in the previous phase. The results from the MVRO methodology showed that by the end of this reporting period, 4,498 youths, 1,119 parents and 390 public officials had been assisted by the project. From this total, 2,906 youths and 314 parents benefited from the second phase. During this period, 128 new beneficiaries from rural areas began a social insertion process. Currently, 100 per cent of the youths were assisted with health services and 68 per cent received education services. Beneficiaries were referred to institutions that will provide them with competencies to incorporate into civilian life through different sporting, education and cultural activities. Integral Assistance to Boys and Girls under Six Years of Age and Psycho-social Assistance to Demobilized/Reincorporated Children and Their Families in Bogotá Donor: Government of Colombia, Office of the Mayor of Bogotá The project focuses on giving support to prevent family violence and promote health, psychosocial assistance, gender and recreation activities. Workshops and conferences given by local NGOs aimed to reaffirm family roles both for men and women. By strengthening family bonds and promoting peaceful solutions of family conflicts, the subproject I am also a Human Being promotes new ways for families to relate with their children who disengaged from illegal armed groups. During the first phase of this project, parents are made more aware of their roles as caregivers. The implementation of the health services model took place, based on the specific needs of beneficiary families. Notorious improvements were identified on the selection and registration process of beneficiaries. By the end of this reporting period, the following number of families were assisted in these components: 183 for health, 265 for psycho-social assistance, 53 through gender equity activities and 1,261 through the recreation component. Support Programme for Ex-combatant Children The project assisted 3,507 youths. The Hogar Gestor (Children with living relatives) pilot initiative provided protection to beneficiaries in the following Departments: Cundinamarca, Tolima, Boyacá, Cesar, Guajira, Atlántico and Magdalena. The initiative provides coverage in facilitating and referring youths to a social services network. Dissemination and awareness efforts for the new Childhood and Adolescence Code (Law 1098/2006) were part of the project activities. Since the new regulations came into force last May, training and information workshops were held with the attendance of 680 public offcials from the cities of Bucaramanga, Sincelejo, Villavicencio, Bogotá and Armenia. Joint work with regional authorities in 98 municipalities continued to support the new Childhood and Adolescence Code and its implementation in the formulation of public policies and recruitment prevention plans. Technical and financial assistance for beneficiary youths was provided to 79 productive initiatives, for a total of 3,185 beneficiaries. Through the National Healthcare System, 329 types of healthcare services were provided to beneficiaries. Awareness campaigns on tests and counseling are being implemented in articulation with IOM s HIV Project. The project seeks to place in the agenda of local public

5 authorities Sexual and Reproductive Health issues with emphasis on HIV and prevention of illegal recruitment. A total of 226 youths took part in this activity. To date, 1,262 youths were contacted through the Referral and Opportunity Centres (CROJ) and 810 of them benefited from mental and physical health services; 717 benefited from education services; 343 received education subsidies; 427 had access to employment opportunities; 930 took part in social and cultural activities and 474 youths benefited from family guidance services. The CROJ strategy is constantly strengthend and consolidated, resulting in 587 institution members of the network. Support Programme for Ex-combatant Children in Colombia Donor: Government of Italy The project financed by Cooperazione Italiana was completed in June 2007, after a month s extension. It aimed to consolidate institutional support for the assistance and reinsertion of children and youths demobilized from illegal armed groups, and to prevent the recruitment of children by illegal armed groups. IOM worked together with ICBF (Colombian Institute of Family Welfare) and SENA to train and support the professional technical teams of the assistance centers of ICBF. In addition, income generation and productive initiatives were promoted; family reunifications were supported and an awareness and information campaign was broadcasted. A total of six Referral and Opportunity Centers (CROJ) were designed and implemented to provide support to ex-combatant youths. The project contributed to the Colombian Government s efforts to improve the living conditions of ex-combatant boys and girls.