The peace communities are citizen's initiatives promoted by the communities themselves, and sometimes by the local political or religious authorities, that have come into existence in the midst of the Colombian armed conflict as means to detach the community from it, avoid its consequences and seek peace. They are expressions of the capacity that communities have, despite their vulnerability, to find peaceful solutions outside the context of the armed conflict. These social forms of organization, usually originating with the local communities themselves and in some cases established by communities of displaced people, are created to defend, by peaceful means, their independence in the face of threats from the armed parties to the conflict.

The peace communities have made the commitment that they would not involve themselves in any way in the conflict. They assert their right to peace and enforce the principles of international humanitarian law, in order to keep the civilian population out of the conflict and protect them from the interference of the armed parties. As communities that build a culture of peace through peaceful resolution of conflicts, they contribute to strengthening the State's legitimacy. They represent genuine options of peace and respect for human rights, and truly promote tolerance and reconciliation.

Examples of these community initiatives can be found throughout the country. Among them are the India community, established by the Carare-Opón Peasants and Producers' Cooperative; the community of Mogotes, in Santander; the Antioquia Indigenous People's Organization, composed of 21 municipalities; the peace community of San Francisco, created by organized displaced persons; the communities returning to Cacarica, Chocó, made up by people displaced from the municipality of Riosucio, temporarily settled at Turbo; the Peace Communities of Urabá; the Nasa Project, of the Indian Councils of north Cauca; the Pensilvania initiative, in the department of Caldas, and the Samaniego initiative, in the department of Nariño; the Aguachica initiative, in Cesar; and the peace community of Tame, Arauca, currently being formed, initially promoted by a number of rural districts and now expanding into other parts of the municipality.

The peace communities have enlisted the support of the Colombian government and the international community. Recognition from Colombian society recently expressed itself in the National Peace Prize awarded to the Mogotes and Nasa communities, and the honorable mentions given to the Urabá communities. The India community, Carare-Opón Peasants and Producers' Cooperative, received an international Alternative Peace Prize. The Colombian Church has promoted, through Pastoral Care, these peaceful solutions. The diocese of Socorro and San Gil fostered the Mogotes initiative, and the diocese of Apartadó promoted the organization of the Urabá peace communities. A "Peace Map" is currently being constructed with the assistance of the Observatory of the Presidential Program for Human Rights.

The formation of peace communities, particularly those made up by displaced persons, was envisaged in the government's Policy for the Protection of Human Rights and the Application of International Humanitarian Law, as a means to promote respect for the dignity of the victims of the conflict. The government guarantees the presence of State authorities in these communities and meets their demands with respect to humanitarian assistance, education, health, basic infrastructure and prevention of displacement. As an example, the Social Solidarity Network provides electric lighting, works on the improvement of road links and fosters production projects at San José de Apartadó.

The peace communities initiative has also been given support by governmental and non-governmental national and international organizations, such as Cinep and Justice and Peace, among Colombian NGOs, and Peace Brigades International, the Red Cross, Médecins sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde, Oxfam, Diakonia and Pax Christi among international organizations. These organizations have provided emergency humanitarian assistance, training and accompaniment. Furthermore, representatives from humanitarian and human rights multilateral bodies such as UNHCR and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and also from governments such as that of Holland, have accompanied processes among the peace communities.

Despite their efforts to achieve peace and their decision to detach themselves from the conflict, the vulnerability of the peace communities exposes them to danger. Their members have frequently been threatened, villages have been attacked and some of their leaders have fallen victims to the conflict, murdered or displaced. This has aroused national and international concern. The government has taken military and judicial measures in favor of these communities, and has also organized protective measures. In addition, the Inter-American Human Rights Court and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have requested the adoption of precautionary measures in order to protect the members of the peace communities.