The formation of ethical, humanitarian principles among Colombian society is part of the Policy on the promotion, guaranteeing and respect for Human Rights and the application of International Humanitarian Law, since its fundamental aim is that of ensuring their full observance in Colombia. In addition to the efforts in the fields of education and diffusion of Human Rights among broad sectors of population, the policy incorporates concrete strategies to consolidate respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law among the Armed and Police Forces, institutional protagonists in the struggle against violence. Educational endeavors centered around the Armed Forces and the Police do contribute to the strengthening of respect for Human Rights, as a tool of democratic institutional legitimacy.

The various forces are making significant educational efforts in the area of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Military and police academies carry out educational and promotional programs on Human Rights, aimed at training the personnel in their principles.

With international support, and the conceptual guidance of the International Red Cross and the Human Rights Section of the Vice-President�s Office, the Ministry of Defense and the Military Forces of Colombia have just published 500,000 handbooks with the title "Conduct Guide for Soldiers and Marines", as well as handbooks for instructors. The distribution of these guides is in the care of the Human Rights Offices of the various forces. The handbook is a straightforward set of practical instructions for soldiers on the basic principles of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. It includes rules regarding conduct in military action. The idea is to ensure that every soldier keeps this humanitarian guide at hand, in his or her pocket.

Furthermore, the Human Rights Section of the Vice-President�s Office is furthering a long-term scheme aimed at infusing the humanitarian principles of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law into the behavior of Armed Forces and the Police members. The program was initiated in 1997 under an agreement between the UNDP, the President�s Office and the Military and Police Forces. It is a new educational model which, beyond basic training in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, seeks to ensure that military forces and police personnel internalize their principles and translate them into specific conducts, in such a way that respect for Human Rights becomes part of the permanent attitude of the soldier or police officer, and an institutional transformation comes about. The educational model means a continuous process of mutual influence between academia and institutional life, its aim being that of consolidating the internal Human Rights system in the Military and Police Forces, and formalizing the links between military and police academies, and internal and external control bodies. Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law are not just another subject; they form part of the whole of the military and police academies� curriculum. The model reflects the principle of across-teaching of Human Rights, which means that the learning of Human Rights is integrated with each force�s specific actions, and with the aims of each teaching level.

The scheme is currently progressing from a drawing up stage into that of application of methodology. A cases and rulings database has been compiled, which will help illustrate the subject matter of the various levels of teaching, and identify meeting points of operational and military subjects and Human Rights issues. Furthermore, a special group of instructors is being set up in each force, to reproduce and maintain efforts. In this way, the new educational model will generate new learning dynamics in Human Rights, closely linked to the professional life of military and police personnel. This shall contribute to the consolidation of an institutional culture based on respect and observance of Human Rights among the military and the police.