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Colombia

Colombia is a country ravaged by nearly fifty years of armed conflict involving the army, leftist guerrillas and right wing paramilitary groups.

The lucrative drugs trade, which provides huge profits for paramilitary and guerrilla groups, is an important motor in the perpetuation of the conflict. However, poverty and inequality remain the root causes of the conflict.

Caught in the midst of the conflict, many thousands of Colombians have been killed and over four million people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Today Colombia has one of the highest numbers of displaced people in the world, second only to Sudan.

As well as dealing with the trauma of their ordeal, most people end up pushed into long term poverty, living in precarious dwellings in shanty towns on the outskirts of cities.

The Catholic Church plays a key role in Colombia as an advocate for peace and human rights and in the resettlement of uprooted communities. CAFOD’s programme focuses on peace-building, sustainable livelihoods and work on HIV and AIDS. It incorporates the work of nine partner organisations, including the Social Department of the Colombian Bishops Conference / Caritas Colombia and the Society of Jesus.

In 2010/2011, CAFOD spent £268,026 in Colombia, mainly on peace-building and livelihoods programmes.

Fighting for the Right to Land in Colombia In June Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao, director of CAFOD’s Colombia partner SNPS, came to the UK with two Colombian community leaders. Mélida Guevara and Jesús Alberto Castilla, whose communities have been torn apart by 50 years of internal conflict, visited the UK to tell the government and CAFOD supporters what they can do to help.	Colombia: Putting victims first in the road to reconciliation In a country torn by conflict, CARITAS Colombia is working for lasting peace, and reparation for victims.	International Women's Day: Colombia In southern Colombia, CAFOD partner Pastoral Social is working with small businesses, particularly those run by women.
Colombia: CAFOD partner threatened with death On Wednesday 22 June, Mary Luz Avendaño, a Colombian human rights journalist, received threats on her life from drugs traffickers. She had been investigating two dangerous gangs in Medellín, Colombia in their war for control of territory and drugs, and their links with the police.	CAFOD marks World Indigenous Day On World Indigenous Day, we look at the problems and challenges indigenous communities face and how we and are partners are helping them.	CAFOD warns government: Do not end legal protection for victims of UK multinationals New laws will make it impossible for people in poor countries to seek justice in British courts for human rights breaches by UK multinationals.
Colombia: Defending human rights together Father Mauricio García, a peace campaigner for more than 20 years in war-torn Colombia for our partner CINEP, tells us why a major shift in UK foreign policy is a huge step forward for human rights	Floods and landslides hit Colombia Floods and landslides have affected more than 1.5 million people in Colombia, killing nearly two hundred and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Many families across the country have lost everything.	Colombia: New jobs, new start The British Ambassador to Colombia has praised our work to reduce poverty and support displaced and vulnerable people in the country’s southern region

Published on 30/07/2003, last updated on 13/09/2011

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CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Colombia