The effectiveness of the Colombian government's policy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and the government's determination to fight against illegal armed groups and combat impunity in cases of serious Human Rights violations, can be measured, firstly, by the results achieved by the military forces and the police in their operations. Secondly, by the action taken by the competent judicial agencies to punish the illegal armed parties for Human Rights violations and breaches of International Humanitarian Law. In both cases, the figures show the results of the fight against armed insurgents and self-defense groups. Source: Ministry of Defense, Resultados Operacionales Fuerza Pública magazine Processed by the Observatory on Human Rights - Office of the Vicepresident of Colombia A comparative analysis of the results of operations launched by the military forces and the police, bring to light recent achievements in a fight equally waged against all illegal armed groups. As far as the self-defense groups are concerned, as many casualties were reported during the first six months of 2000 as in the whole of the period between 1998 and 1999. As regards casualties and arrests of members of subversive groups, during the first six months of 2000 the figures were proportionally higher than those reported since 1997. 1) National Police figures include cases in wich there were four or more victims 2) The figures of the Office of the People's Advocate for 1991 to 1996 refer to cases in which there were 4 or more victims. Figures for 1997 onmwards refer to 3 or more victims. 3) The Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rigths refers to cases in wich there were 4 or more victims. Processed by the Observatory on Human Rights - Office of the Vicepresident of Colombia In connection with the results achieved by the justice administration bodies, historical data from the Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor General's Office reveal increased effectiveness. By measuring judicial performance by the current state of investigations and drawing comparisons between the situation in August 1999, December 1999 and July 2000, it is possible to see a clear rise in the figures for restraining orders, indictments, arrests and arrest warrants issued against members of subversive and self-defense groups. Processed by the Observatory on Human Rights - Office of the Vicepresident of Colombia However, as visible progress is made through state action, the humanitarian situation worsens because of the fierceness of the fighting between the illegal armed parties. This is shown in the comparative historical tables of kidnappings and massacres, two indicators among others of the consequences of the conflict for the civilian population, in the end the worst affected party. Source: Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor General's Office Processed by the Observatory on Human Rights - Office of the Vicepresident of Colombia