Non-Governmental Organizations

Colombian Episcopal Conference,
Human Mobility Office

The Colombian Catholic Church is carrying out programs of integral assistance to the displaced population, under the principles of Catholic ethics. Specific programs of assistance to displaced persons and communities are implemented by the Episcopal Conference's Pastoral Care National Secretariat, and the dioceses and parishes. The funds required are channeled through programs, and through the Short-term, Emergency Projects Fund, whose priority is to provide comprehensive, immediate humanitarian assistance to the displaced population. Their work focuses on prevention, emergency assistance, transition, socioeconomic stabilization and return, and is aimed at promotion of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and the construction of a culture of peace. Social research and the RUT information system, social care, education and applied educational methods, inter-institutional harmonization and complementation, are the basis on which the activities relating to the integral assistance to the displaced population.

CODHES, Advisory Office
for Human Rights and Displacement

The Advisory Office for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) established in 1992. Its purpose is to contribute to the promotion and protection of Human Rights, particularly those of the displaced population, through research projects and formulation of institutional schemes, and the design of solutions to social problems, within a framework of democracy and peace. CODHES' aims are to contribute to the removal of the causes of forced displacement resulting from violence; to provide humanitarian assistance and contribute to the protection and socioeconomic and psychosocial recovery of displaced persons; to raise awareness and sensitize the state, civil society and the international community. CODHES carries out projects relating to information gathering and analysis, communication and dissemination, participation in the formulation of governmental institutional schemes, and following the implementation of public policies.

GAD, Support for the Displaced Group

GAD was created in 1995 by 13 Colombian NGO's Human Rights organizations. It is currently made up of the Emotional Recovery of Victims Support Group (AVRE), Nation of Youths (BENPOSTA), the Research and Popular Education Center (CINEP), the Colombian Commission of Jurists, the Colombian Episcopal Conference -Human Mobility Office, the "José Alvear Restrepo" Lawyers Group, the Foundation for Education and Development (FEDES), "Humanidad Vigente", the Latin American Institute for Alternative Legal Services (ILSA), The Inter-congregational Justice and Peace Commission, the Mennonite Foundation for Development, the Association for Alternative Social Promotion (MINGA), and the Professional Community Services Association (SEMBRAR). Its purpose is to coordinate dialogue, concerning the formulation and implementation of public policies relating to internal displacement, and to promote events on a regional level for the consolidation of displaced persons organizations. This is aimed at ensuring that the state assumes responsibility and establishes and carries out policies for the protection of the victims, prevention, and adopts long-term solutions.