Because of its increasing escalation, fragmentation and degradation, Colombia�s internal armed conflict constitutes the greatest source of violation of fundamental rights. It prevents the full enjoyment of Human Rights, and the same time restricts the State�s capacity to guarantee their exercise. The illegal armed protagonists in the conflict, and more specifically guerrilla and self-defense groups, have brought dehumanization into the conflict, and are increasingly involving civilians in it.

International Humanitarian Law provides means of humanizing the conflict, and it is a key point on the agenda of negotiations of the peace process. Illegal armed protagonists have an obligation to observe the rules that regulate internal armed conflicts, and to respect fundamental rights.

In order to promote the humanization of the war, and to alleviate the sufferings of the civilian population, the present government's "Policy on the promotion, guaranteeing and respect for Human Rights and the application of International Humanitarian Law", makes provision for the implementation of IHL through the conclusion of humanitarian agreements with armed groups, in accordance with the requirements of common article three of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. Also, in order to take decisive steps to humanize the war, in its first stage the policy is aimed at protecting children, pregnant women and elderly people, keeping minors from the armed conflict, preventing the recruitment of children under the age of 18, preventing sexual abuse and violence against boys and girls engaged in the armed conflict, promoting action to eradicate anti-personal mines, and promoting agreements and commitments for the setting up of mechanisms such as safe areas for displaced population. In the end, the objective is to ensure the full observance of Human Rights.