Non-governmental organizations. This section is contributed by NGO's and other institutions Free Country Foundation The Free Country Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit-making organization that provides legal, psychological, and mass-media-related assistance to the victims of kidnapping, free of charge. It does not take part in negotiations or acts as a mediator, nor does it offer direct financial aid to the families of the victims. Its work benefits not just the victims themselves, but also those closest to them, including their relatives and loved ones. Internationally, Free Country is unique. Nationally, it leads a pressure campaign to persuade the State to redesign its anti-kidnapping policy. The Free Country Foundation -Program for the Comprehensive Assistance to Kidnapped Persons, was set up in 1991 as a response to citizens' concern about the increase in kidnapping, and following the publication of journalist Francisco Santos-Calderón's "Letter to a Kidnapped Person". Its achievements include a proposal, on popular initiative, for an anti-kidnapping bill, now Law 40 of 1993, with the backing of over a million signatures; the organization of mass marches by the "For the Country We Want: No Kidnapping" Citizen Movement; capturing the votes for peace of 10 million Colombians through the Citizens' Mandate for Peace, Life and Liberty Movement in 1997; the creation of the "No More" Citizen Movement, which organized the "First Great National March for Peace", and the "First National Blackout for Peace". In 2000 the Foundation received the UN Vienna Civil Society Award for its fight against kidnapping. The Award is granted annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals or organizations in promoting civil society, fostering social progress, and fighting drug abuse, crime and terrorism. "La María", Humanitarian, Social Organization It was set up by relatives of the 170 victims of a mass kidnapping carried out by the ELN at La María church, in Cali, in May 1999. Their joint efforts resulted in the release of all the victims of this mass kidnapping. The organization was formally established in April 2000 with the aim of contributing to peace and reconciliation in Colombia. It concentrates on the following activities: providing humanitarian support to the victims of kidnapping (both civilian and military) and their families, defending the right to freedom, promoting civic-mindedness and democracy through education, strengthening civil society, and providing support to State institutions.