Report highlights humanitarian concerns in Colombia's Putumayo region

[Judi Lynn]

Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Date: 14 Jul 2008
Report highlights humanitarian concerns in Colombia's Putumayo region

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, July 14 (UNHCR) – Forced displacement remains a major problem in southern Colombia's volatile Putumayo department, according to a report by six local and international non-governmental organizations. But the UN refugee agency says continuing opposition to the violence gives some room for hope in the border region.

The report released in Bogotá last Thursday was based on the findings of a recent monitoring mission to the Putumayo region, in which the UN refugee agency took part as an international observer.

The report authors identified forced displacement, along with the "absence of clear mechanisms to guarantee the enjoyment of various civil and human rights and the singling out and persecution of community leaders and human rights defenders," as the main humanitarian concerns in Putumayo.

The region is one of the epicentres of Colombia's internal conflict, with a strong presence of irregular armed groups and a militarization of the area. It is one of 15 priority regions for UNHCR in Colombia because of the high incidence of forced displacement, both internal and across the border to Ecuador.

The report identified several highly vulnerable groups, including children at risk of forced recruitment by irregular armed groups; indigenous groups; and females at risk of violence and sexual exploitation. It also said that communal leaders, both indigenous and others, are at high risk of being stigmatized and persecuted.

More:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-7GJNK7?OpenDocument