Colombia, a country of Prosperity and Democracy

Colombia, a country of
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
República de Colombia
Prosperity and Democracy
2nd Edition
Prosperity and Democracy
Colombia, a country of Prosperity and
Prosperity and Democracy
Colombia, a country of Prosperity and
Language
Spanish
Land area
Total area
Population
46.359.166
Land borders
Territorial waters
Bogota D.C.
2,070,408 sq.km.
1,141,748 sq.km.
928,660 sq.km.
Oceans
Pacific and Atlantic
Panama, Venezuela, Brazil,
Peru and Ecuador
Maritime borders
Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Jamaica,
Dominican
Republic and Haiti
Colombia is five times the size of Japan, six times the size of Malaysa, 25 times the size
of the United Arab Emirates. Colombia would fit into China four times, into India
1.5 times. France, Spain and Portugal would together fit into Colombia.
Población
Population
Colombia tiene la tercera población más
numerosahas
en the
América
Latina population
y ocupa el in
puesto
Colombia
third largest
Latin
24 en el and
mundo.
America
the 24th largest in the world.
La tasa
de alfabetismo,
es the
decirnumber
los habitantes
de
The
literacy
rate, that is,
of people
15 y 15
más
que can
saben
escribir,
es el
aged
or años
over who
readleer
andywrite,
is 96.6%.
91,6%.
The Colombian labour force is among the most
La fuerza
colombiana
más
skilled
andlaboral
competitive,
with esa una
costde10lastimes
calificadas
y competitivas,
un costo
diez
lower
than that
of developed con
counties.
More than
veces
al de is
losunder
países
desarrollados. Más
half
theinferior
population
25.
de la mitad de la población es menor de 25 años.
Political organization
Organización política
The Republic of Colombia is a unitary, democratic,
La Repúblicaand
de pluralistic
Colombiastate
es unwith
Estado
unitario,
participatory
separation
of
democrático,
participativo
y
pluralista
con
powers. Colombia has a presidentialist government
separación
El National
Presidente
es elegido
elected
everyde4 poderes.
years. The
Congress
has
por
voto
popular
por
un
período
de
cuatro
años.
two legislative chambers.
Jefe de Estado: Presidente Juan Manuel Santos
Head of Government and State: President Juan
Calderón (2010 – 2014).
Manuel Santos (2010-2014).
Colombia en organismos
Colombia in international
internacionales
organizations
Colombia hace parte de la Organización de las
Colombia
been
part desde
of the elUnited
Nations
Naciones has
Unidas
(ONU)
año 1945,
así
since
1945,
currently
is
also
part
of
most
como de la mayoría de las Organizacionesofdethe
la
organizations
of the
UN
family; it has
been a
familia de la ONU,
de la
Organización
de Estados
member
of the
Organization
of American
States
Americanos
(OEA)
desde 1948
y de diversas
since
1948
and
of
a
wide
range
of
subregional
Organizaciones subregionales como la Unión
organizations
the PacificlaAlliance
(Peru,
Suramericana such
de asNaciones,
Comunidad
Mexico,
UNASUR,
the Andean
Andina Chile,
(CAN),Colombia),
el Proyecto
Mesoamérica
y la
Community,
the
Meso-American
Project
and the
Asociación de Estados del Caribe, entre otros.
Association of Caribbean States, amongst others.
Colombia, A country of Prosperity
and Democracy
The Colombian State is a solid and strong democracy, with long traditions within the
region. In the last ten years, partly as a result of the strengthening of its institutions, as
well as the improvement of security throughout the country, Colombia has succeeded in
positioning itself as a leader in the region. Above all, however, this has been the result of
its people’s entrepreneurship.
Colombia has much to offer the world: it is a megadiverse country, committed to the
environment, renewable energy and biofuels; it is also a safe and exotic destination
for tourists. Through international cooperation, including South-South cooperation,
Colombia is supporting other nations and regions of the world on a number of key issues,
taking advantage of its experience and knowledge. At the same time, it has reaffirmed its
commitment to the defense and promotion of human rights, given its democratic,
ethical and human convictions.
“We are determined, as stated in our National Development Plan, to
advance towards a “Prosperity for All”, which is based on three pillars:
more work, more security and less poverty”.
“President of the Republic, Juan Manuel Santos (June 10, 2011).
4
A megadiverse territory,
committed to the environment
Colombia is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world. It has the greatest
biodiversity per square kilometer in the planet, and is a world power in terms of
biodiversity and natural resources. It is home to approximately 10% of the Earth´s
biodiversity and 7% of the Amazon jungle, although it represents only 0.7% of the world´s
continental landmass.
Colombia has implemented a series of national policies designed to promote
and maintain the conservation of the environment, and has allocated over
12.6 million hectares to the National Parks system, representing more
than 10% of its total land and sea territory.
Colombia has at least 737,000 bodies of water, including rivers, streams, lakes, lagoons
and dams, which make it a world water power. It has important reserves of usable
water in 1,600 lakes, lagoons and dams that have been identified so far, with a total
approximate volume of 26,300 million m³. Groundwater represents a major potential for
the sustainable development of the country, since approximately 31% of its fresh water
is to be found in its aquifers.
Mitigation
Colombia has a privileged situation, with a clean energy Grid* in which over 75% of its
generation is produced by hydro plants. Furthermore, important mitigation actions have
voluntarily been taken in a number of sectors, including mass transport and investment
in alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels.
* Clean energy Grid: power generation through renewable and clean energy sources. Examples are hydroelectric and wind energy.
6
One very valuable initiative for Colombia is the international implementation of mechanisms
such as the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).
Forests store large quantities of carbon, and therefore their sound management is a basic
element in the solution to climate change. Today, it is estimated that deforestation and
degradation of forests generate some 20% of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) worldwide. REDD
projects provide financial benefits to preserve forests, and hence, to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. For countries with significant forestry potential such as Colombia, this
represents an important source of financial resources to support the country’s sustainable
development.
Adaptation
As a country, Colombia only produces 0.37% of the world´s GHG, but it is highly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change. After the series of devastating floods which
affected more than 3 million Colombians between 2010 and 2011, the Government has given
priority to ensuring that adaptation to climate change considerations are mainstreamed into
planning and decision-making processes. Currently, Colombia is developing a National
Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change. Its commitment to addressing the impacts of
climate change is reflected in the active role it plays in international negotiations under the
UNFCCC, where it supports the Adaptation Framework.
77
Number of Visitors
2002- 2010
Main Colombian Import
Sources
(January - October 2011) (%)
Main Export Destinations
of Colombia
(January - October 2011) (%)
Population
2011 (Millions)
46.359,166
United States (37,9%)
EU (15,3%)
China (4,1%)
Chile (3,8%)
Ecuador (3,4%)
Venezuela (2,9%)
Brazil (2,5%)
United States (25,5%)
China (14,5%)
Mexico (11,1%)
Brazil (5,1%)
Germany (4,1%)
Argentina (3,6%)
France (3,1%)
Colombia is first in: Production of Emeralds,
variety of Palm Trees (244 species), bamboo
Production in America, coffee Quality, major
exporter of Arabian Coffee, major coal exporter in
Latin America, biodiversity per km2, number of
birds and amphibians in the world
Colombia is second worldwide in: Banana
production, variety of Butterflies (300 families and
14,000 species), production and export of flowers,
production of blackberries
The tenth country in the world with the best
environmental performance (Yale University)
157%
A dynamic economy
The Government of President Juan Manuel Santos aims to seal a social pact which will
allow Colombians to build a better country based on democratic prosperity. The core of
this proposal is the generation of employment, seeking to ensure that all Colombians
have secure incomes, dignified employment, and affiliation to the Social Security
system. For this purpose, five “driving forces for growth” were selected to kickstart the
economy in this Administration: agriculture, social interest housing, mining, innovation
and infrastructure. Colombia has set the basis for long-term development, opening the
doors to investment in these sectors.
Infrastructure is key for supporting economic development, competitiveness and
regional integration. The challenge is to increase the railway network from 906 to 2,000
km, the main highway system from 1,050 to 2,000 km, and the number of bridges in the
primary road network from 1 to 27.
In terms of energy interconnection, Colombia is developing the infrastructure required
for the Panama-Colombia-Chile interconnection project. The project is now under
construction and will enable an increase in exports to Central America.
Colombia makes innovation a priority of its development strategy. Through investment
in research and development, information and communications technology, and
technological and scientific activities for innovation, the intention is to develop learning
through research, to enhance the potential and capabilities of Colombia’s human capital,
and to link up the productive sector with the academic sector.
Investment in housing is a basic tool in the struggle against poverty. One of the targets
of the 2010-2014 Administration is to increase the number of houses built from 560,300
to 1,000,000.
Colombia’s agriculture has historically been characterized as one of the most productive
sectors, with the greatest capacity for the generation of employment. In the quest for
greater competitiveness and the reduction of poverty, Colombia aims to increase its total
agricultural production by 33.9% between 2014 and 2019.
9
The mining and energy sector has been one of the fastest-growing areas of the economy
in the last ten years, accompanied by high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). In
2010, Colombia raised its daily oil production to 785,000 barrels, an increase of 14.6%
compared to the preceding year. FDI in the mining sector has grown 664% since 2002.
Also, Colombia has crude oil reserves of some 2,000 million barrels.
The world looks to Colombia with growing interest, as a stable country with a solid economy,
with significant opportunities for business, legal security for investors, low inflation, a controlled
fiscal deficit, diversifying products, skilled human resources and a private sector ready to
exchange experiences and benefits. After the dynamic growth of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India
and China), there is a new group of six countries called the CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia,
Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa), which experts say one day will represent driving
forces of the world economy. The CIVETS economies are profiled as attractive destinations for
investors, and will record average GDP increases of some 4.5% for the next 20 years - even
higher than the estimates for the G-7 countries, at 1.8%. They are countries with a population
which is mostly young and growing, with diversified and dynamic economies, political stability
and a brilliant future. The emerging markets of the CIVETS will grow three times faster than
the developed countries. Furthermore, these countries have shown good resilience to the
world financial crisis. The consolidation of the CIVETS and their future alliances will lend new
dynamics to the economies of the 21st-century.
“Any company with global ambitions must be active in relation to the CIVETS
markets... We have to go where there is business to do”.
Speech of Michael Geoghegan, Executive Director of the HSBC Group, to the Hong Kong Chamber of
Commerce, April 27, 2010. See www.hsbc.com.
10
EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein,
European Union (Signature)
CAN (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia)
MERCOSUR (Argentina, Paraguay,
Uruguay and Brazil)
Chile
Mexico
North Triangle (Honduras,
Guatemala and El Salvador)
Switzerland , Lichtenstein
Canada
United States
Japan
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Australia
In negotiations
Future Ones
In force
Signed
In 2014, Colombia aspires to have completed the
negotiations for 12 free-trade agreements with
50 countries
South Korea
Panama
Turkey
21 double taxation
agreements (ADT)
with 22 countries
By 2011, Colombia expects to have complete negotiations of
11 free trade agreements (FTA) with 48 countries, gaining
Renewable Energy and
Biofuels
Colombia has implemented a solid policy designed to generate a regulatory framework
and create financial instruments and conditions for the sustainable production of
renewable energy and biofuels.
The generation capacity of the National Grid in 2010 was 56,887.4 Gwh, of which 71%
came from hydro plants and the remaining 29% from thermal and wind generation.
• Hydro generation accounted a total of 40,557.3GWh, or 71.3% of total electricity
generated on the Grid
• Wind farms accounted for 38.6 GWh
• Biomass generation produced 227.7 GWh.
Today, a number of studies are being conducted to increase generation from renewable
forms of energy in Colombia, in particular solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy,
which has great potential due to the country´s geology and geography. Medellín´s EPM
(Empresas Públicas de Medellín) has commissioned the first windfarm, Jepirachí, in the
Upper Guajira region, with 15 turbines providing 19.5 MW to the Grid, and with the
possibility of expansion to other parts of the country.
As an incentive to invest in biofuels, producers enjoy access to a special regime which
allows them to import machinery duty-free, and gives them a preferential rate of income
tax of 15%. Furthermore, both ethanol and bio diesel used to mix with gasoline and
diesel are exempted from consumption taxes as an incentive measure.
13
At the moment, Colombia produces
1.1 million litres/day of ethanol and
1.8 million litres/day of biodiesel.
These figures will increase with the
development of ethanol projects fueled
from sugarcane and beetroot, with a
production capacity of some 1.5 million
litres-day by 2012. New plants will
shortly be added to the six existing
biodiesel plants, increasing production
by 1.8 million L/day.
Colombia, as leader of the biofuels
discussion group in the Meso-America
Project, has replicated its experiences in
other countries in Latin America.
In 2009, two biodiesel plants were set
up in El Salvador and Honduras, designed
and built with Colombian technology, with
capacities of up to 10,000 L/day and with
the possibility of using different sources
of raw material. This places Colombia as a
leader in the development of technologies
and transfer of knowledge, as well as in the
production of biofuels.
14
Mining and Energy
”The entire world now sees Colombia as an energy power, and as a mining power”1.
The strong growth in the mining and energy sector has brought Colombia onto the
radars of the world. Mining and energy exports rose 47.6% between January and May
2011, for a total of US$ 15,284 million, or 69.4% of Colombia’s total exports.
The Government intends to increase production and reserves of hydrocarbons, signing
205 new E&P contracts in the next four years. By 2014, 570 wells will have been drilled,
to achieve a production of 1.15 million barrels of oil a day.
The generation of electricity on the National Grid at June 2011 was 80.1% hydro-generated,
13.3% produced by thermal generation, and 6.6% by small generators and co-generators.
In the first half of 2011, Colombia produced 929.226 barrels of oil a day, according to
Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos. This represented an increase of 16.3% compared to
the same period of 2010, when production reached 767,000 barrels per day.
Foreign direct investment in the mining sector increased 664% between 2002 and 2008,
reaching a total of US$ 196 million in 20082.
In mining, Colombia is Latin America´s largest producer, and the world’s 10th largest, with
more than 74,000 t of production in 2010.
According to British Petroleum, Colombia is ranked third in the region for oil production,
and has reserves of 1,990 million barrels of crude.
“Colombia is projecting itself as an energy power in the region. There is a great demand
for Colombian electricity”3. In interconnection, Colombia is currently developing the
infrastructure required for the Panama-Colombia-Chile interconnection project. Projects
currently under construction will bring increased electricity exports to Central America.
1 Juan Manuel Santos at the closing session of the Management Dialogues in the Ministry of Mines and Energy
2 Ministry of Mines and Energy. El sector minero colombiano: fuente de oportunidades. October 2010
3 Ibid.
16
Tourism, A country of diversity
1.320
1000
0
800 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2000 2001
732
600
790
Jan- JanNov Nov
2010 2011
400
200
0
Jan- JanColombia is a country with strong cultural diversity, expressed
more
7002007
festivals
2000 2001 2002in2003
2004 than
2005 2006
2008 2009 2010
Nov Nov
and carnivals. Its architectural and artisan techniques are unique, handed down from its
2010 2011
Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes
most traditional cultures; there are hundreds
of historical monuments; and there is a wide
cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%
range traditional wisdom, customs and values which are the hallmark of the local people.
Source: Proexport
Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes
cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%
Tourism, 2000 – November 2011
Source: Proexport
Thousand of visitors*
2000
1800
1474
1600
1400
1353
1200
1.431
1.320
In six years, the number of
visitors tripled.
1000
800
600
732
790
400
200
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Jan- JanNov Nov
2010 2011
Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes
cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%
Source: Proexport
In six years, the number of
visitors tripled.
While tourism in the word
increased
in
While
tourism in6,7%
the word
increased 6,7% in
Colombia this trend
Colombia this trend
increased
8,9% in 2010
increased 8,9% in 2010
Main nationalities of visitors
Main nationalities
of visitors
(January - October
2011)
(January - October 2011)
United States 17%, Venezuela 14%, Ecuador 7%,
Argentina
Brazil 6%,14%,
Peru 6%,
Spain 6%
States
17%,6%,
Venezuela
Ecuador
7%,
United
Argentina 6%, Brazil 6%, Peru 6%, Spain 6%
Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.
18
In six years, the number of
visitors tripled.
While tourism in the word
Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.
1
- Janv Nov
0 2011
The
Government
been developing
initiatives on several
fronts
position the
country
as
El Gobierno
de has
Colombia
viene desarrollando
iniciativas
entodistintos
frentes
para
aposicionarse
world-class tourist
and to achieve
sustained
in that sector.
It intends
como destination,
destino turístico
de clase
mundialgrowth
y alcanzar
un crecimiento
sostenido
sector: mejorarinla tourism,
competitividad
la infraestructura
de developing
servicios y
to
improvedel
competitiveness
service turística,
and transport
infrastructure
de transporte;
desarrollar
megaproyectos
parques temáticos,
y
megaprojects
for tourism;
to create
theme parks, turísticos;
and to makecrear
visa regulations
more flexible,
flexibilizar
el tema
de visados
parapolicy.
tener una “Política de Cielos Abiertos”.
Skies”
and
to develop
an “Open
ncludes
Colombia and
y Estados
Unidos
ratificaron
“Política
de Cielos
mayo
Colombia
the United
States
ratifiedlathe
Open Skies
policy inAbiertos”
May 2011,en
and
this del
will
presente
año,
lo
que
permitirá
el
incremento
de
las
frecuencias
en
las
rutas
aéreas
ya
allow increased frequency of routes already operated and the creation of new routes without
operadas
y
la
creación
de
nuevas
rutas
sin
limitaciones.
limitations.
Durante la Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) 2011 en Madrid (España), Colombia se
During the 2011 tourism fair (FITA) in Madrid, Colombia positioned itself as the new green
posicionó como el nuevo destino verde, haciendo énfasis en el patrimonio natural que
destination, emphasizing its natural heritage as its principal strategy for international tourism.
posee como principal estrategia para el turismo internacional.
The
Los Angeles
TimesTimes
noteddestacó
the growth
of 17% in tourism
in del
Colombia
inen
2009,
compared
El diario
Los Angeles
el crecimiento
del 17%
turismo
Colombia
en
to
2%
in
the
rest
of
the
world,
and
the
arrival
of
the
Hilton,
Sonesta,
Intercontinental,
and
el 2009 con respecto al 2% mundial y el ingreso de las cadenas hoteleras Hilton, Sonesta,
4
Marriot
hotel chains
Intercontinental,
NH. y Marriot5 al país.
The New York Times included Colombia in
itsNew
list York
of recommended
destinations
The
Times incluyó atourist
Colombia
en su lista de
lugares
turísticos
recomendados para visitar en 2011.
to visit
in 2011.
10. Cali, Colombia
Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life.
Cali has always felt like the grittier stepsister of Medellín, but tucked amid the colonial homes of the barrios of San Antonio or Granada are a
number of new jewelry boutiques, low-key cafes and salsotecas teeming with crowds as sexy as any in South America.
Salsa remains Cali’s lifeblood. If the dance floors of Tin Tin Deo or Zaperoco are too full, try La Fuente, a pint-size bar jammed with sweaty
students who spill out onto the street most nights. Or, follow the sounds of Latin jazz to Guayusa, just next door. Those with serious salsa chops
hitch a cab out of town to the suburb of Juanchito, whose dance floors do not fill up until after midnight (but go in a group, as this section gets
dicey at those hours). Also be sure to check out a performance of Delirio, the monthly cabaret that is part Cirque du Soleil, part salsa clinic.
— LIONEL BEEHNER
4 Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists. Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010
6. Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists. Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010.
16
19
CORPORATE TOURISM
Why not hold an event in Colombia?
Colombia is ready to host world-class events, bringing together thousands of visitors
every year. It offers everything from spacious luxury hotels of local and international chains
to modern boutique hotels for business, converted farmhouses and tourist inns. There is
also a wide range of conventions centres, fairgrounds and meeting rooms with all the
logistics needed to make any event a success.
Colombia is internationally known for the organization of events, with innovative ideas that
exceed the expectations of corporate visitors. Major local and international events host
thousands of visitors – such as the Latin America WEF in 2010, the 50th IDB Governors´
General Assembly in 2009 and the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in 2009, amongst many others.
Colombia is also an active member of ICCA, and for the first time in its history the World
Bank´s Doing Business report has ranked Colombia as the best business climate in Latin
America.
Colombia offers a wide variety of museums, fairs, festivals, cultural events and good food. As
an international destination, Colombia also offers visitors the chance to play golf, with over
50 courses, among the best in Latin America.
Bogotá, Cartagena, the Coffee Triangle, Santander, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Santa
Marta offer a diversity of destinations, and count with the most modern facilities, as well as
history, culture, sports, adventure, ecotourism, sun and sand.
20
Cartagena was declared a World Heritage city by UNESCO in 1984, as “Port, Fort and
Monumental Group of Cartagena”. UNESCO later declared the Coffee Belt to be part of the
“World Cultural Heritage of Mankind”.
Photo: Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay
Photo: Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay
21
Cooperation, A pillar of the
Colombian’s foreign policy
Cooperation, the tool of Colombia’s foreign policy
International Cooperation is a privileged instrument of foreign policy, which allows
Colombia not only to comply with its development objectives, but also to set up new
mechanisms and means of understanding and to diversify relations and agendas with
other countries and regions.
South-South Cooperation
Under concepts of fairness, trust and joint efforts, Colombia today is recognized as a
country that offers knowledge, technical skills, and experience, through South-South and
Triangular cooperation.
At the regional level and in order to maximize the impact and effectiveness of cooperation,
the country leads and supports programs like the Cooperation Strategy between
Colombia and the Caribbean Basin, the International Cooperation Strategy in
Comprehensive Security and the Regional Cooperation Program in Central America,
which respond to requests from partner countries.
West Africa and Egypt
Central America, Caribbean and
South American Countries
23
Bilateral cooperation and
assistance for development
official
Colombia intends to make a qualitative leap
forward to achieve democratic prosperity,
and the Government´s main objective in
its cooperation policy is to achieve a shift
towards technical and financial cooperation
and away from the humanitarian assistance for
development provided hitherto.This includes a
diversification of topics and geography for the
agenda of issues such as science, technology,
innovation, environment, health, the Frontier
Plan for Prosperity, and the Integral Action
Plan for 29 municipalities identified as those
which require priority attention.
Multilateral Cooperation
1. For the Government, it is of great
importance to deepen exercises in planning,
coordination, follow-up and evaluation of
the cooperation provided by the United
Nations System, so that it will be an effective
tool, complimentary to and coordinated
with the National Development Plan. During
2010 and 2011, progress has been made in
the definition, evaluation, alignment and
extension of 10 cooperation frameworks with
some of the UN Agencies.
24
2. Humanitarian assistance for disasters.
In recent years, Colombia has made
donations of some 3,350 t of aid in kind,
and provided US$4.3 million of nonreimbursable financial cooperation,
along with technical assistance to strengthen
the capacity of countries affected by
natural disasters. Its interest in the support
for the process of reconstruction of Haiti
continues.
Colombia wishes to emphasize its very
great appreciation of the generosity
and solidarity of the International
Community in response to the request
for aid sent as a result of the massive
flooding suffered in 2010-2011.
The financial aid received by official
cooperation sources totaled US$30.5
million, and 430 t of aid was received
in kind.
A country committed to
Human Rights
The firm and unyielding commitment to the defense and promotion of human rights
arises from Colombia´s own open, democratic, ethical and human convictions, and not
as a result of external considerations. Actions taken respond to the needs for respect and
promotion of human rights, dramatically reducing crime and forms of conduct which are
the most serious threat to life and to the fundamental rights of Colombians.
The Law of Justice and Peace
President Juan Manuel Santos was invited to the IX Assembly of the States Parties of the
International Criminal Court on December 6, 2010 in New York, where he emphasized
the “decision to combat impunity in Colombia, and unequivocal support
for the International Criminal Court. I have come to assure you that the
Government of Colombia has the firmest of will - and I wish to make this
most clear- to recognize and materialize the rights of victims to truth, justice
and reparation”5.
The process of transitional justice in Colombia, developed by what is known as the “Law
of Justice and Peace”, is an unprecedented development. Colombia is the only country
to offer comprehensive application of the principles of truth, justice and reparation for
the victims of the demobilized illegal armed groups. It aims to i) achieve demobilization,
disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups, ii) recognize and materialize the
rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation, and iii) bring to justice the leaders of the
illegal armed groups responsible for atrocities.
5 President Juan Manuel Santos, addressing the IX Assembly of the States Parties to the Court in New York, December 6, 2010
26
The Law of Victims and the Restitution of Lands
The Law of Victims and the Restitution of Lands (Law 1448/2011), was signed into the
statute book by the President in June 2011, and is projected to be applied over a period
of 10 years.
The law seeks to provide full reparation through economic indemnities and the restitution
of lands for some 4 million people who have been the victims of armed conflicts since
1985. They represent about 1 million families, including the displaced. Reparation will be
given to some 100,000 families each year, that is, some 8,500 families a month or about
350 families every day for the next 10 years. The Government has decided to fund this
with an investment of US$ 25,000 million, for implementation.
Human rights defenders
Today, the Colombian Government is promoting a series of initiatives designed to
institutionalize an active strategy for the protection and guarantee of human rights
defenders.
The National Guarantees Working Group and Regional Guarantees Working Groups. The
Government continues with the dynamics of its National Guarantees Working Group and
Regional Guarantees Working Groups to offer guarantees for the work of human rights
defenders. Since it began in April 2009, the Groups have held 11 Regional Group hearings
and four National Group meetings. The mechanism is designed to achieve two purposes:
firstly, it establishes direct interaction with social organizations with regard to their needs
and guarantees; and secondly, it moves forward in the construction of agreements and
commitments to facilitate their work as human rights defenders. The State has acquired 91
commitments in the area of prevention, 61 in protection, and 66 in investigations and trials.
27
Protection
for human
rights defenders:
TheHumanos:
Program has
an emergency
ProgramaProgram
de Protección
de Defensores
de Derechos
el Programa
cuentaprocedure
con un
de emergencia
para la aprobación
de las
medidasand
y puede
seradopted
adoptado
totrámite
be followed
for the approval
of the security
measures,
can be
byde
the
maneraofdiscrecional
la Directora
Humanos
del Ministerio
del Interior
y
Director
the Humanpor
Rights
Programde
in Derechos
the Ministry
of the Interior.
The Program
has had
Justicia.
El Programa
ha fortalecido
presupuestalmente
al pasarmillion
de USD2.5
itsde
budget
strengthened
fromseUS$2.5
million in 1999
to more than US$80.5
in 2011.
millones en 1999 a más de USD80.5 millones en 2011.
OfDe
the
themedidas
Protection
Program, there
are 1,650
union
members,
los11,715
11.715beneficiaries
beneficiariosof
con
de protección
se destacan:
1.650
sindicalistas,
1,150
human
rights
defenders
and
489
members
of
the
former
political
party
UP
and the
1.150 defensores de Derechos Humanos, 489 miembros de la UP y del Partido
ComunistaCommunist
Colombiano,
762PCC,
desplazados
y 230 and
periodistas.
Colombian
Party
762 displaced
230 journalists.
14000
11.179
11.715
10.806
10.716
12000
Población
Beneficiada
Population
directly
Directamente
benefited by con
protection
Medidas
de
Protección
measures:
1999- April 2011.
9.444
10000
8000
5.221
6000
4.857
4000
2000
0
5.446
5.507
6.097
2.354
177
880
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 abr-11
apr-11
22
28
Fuente: Ministerio de Interior y Justícia
Source: Ministry of Interior
Colombia, a country of
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
República de Colombia
Prosperity and Democracy
2nd Edition
Prosperity and Democracy
Colombia, a country of Prosperity and
Prosperity and Democracy
Colombia, a country of Prosperity and