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) Donor: USAID 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 income- generation 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 Donor: USAID 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 ex- combatants. IOM’s assistance contributed to the operation of the service centres for demobilized combatants. • 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 Donor: USAID • 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 sub- projects 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. • 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