Non-governmental organizations. This section is contributed by NGO's and other institutions Association for Alternative Social Promotion, MINGA The Association for Alternative Social Promotion, MINGA, is a human rights NGO founded in 1992 by a number of professionals concerned with the situation of Colombia. The MINGA project, incorporating education, research, lobbying, promotion, and legal aid, is aimed at strengthening social forms of defense of human rights, and offering training and advice to community organizations and displaced communities, in order to help restore the fabric of society through a value system based on participation, respect for the other and coexistence, the mainstays of a democratic society. The organization's continuous work has contributed to mitigating the serious consequences of human rights violations and infringements of international humanitarian law, as well as preventing and dealing with internal displacement in the north-eastern region of Colombia, comprising the departments of North Santander, Santander and Arauca, southern Cesar, and southern Bolívar, and in the south-western region, comprising the departments of Cauca, Nariño and Putumayo, and also in other conflict zones. MINGA describes itself as an independent, autonomous NGO, built upon direct work with the communities, coordination with national and international human rights organizations, and dialogue with State powers, for the purpose of finding peace and development solutions from the regions, with global intervention. In 1998, MINGA's two women founders were awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Prize in Washington, in recognition of their work in the field of human rights.