Latin America Advisor 2022-03-07 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

March 1, 2022

Why Are So Many Colombians Being Forced to Flee?

The United Nations’ Office on Humanitarian Affairs has focused on helping high concentrations of vulnerable Colombians in the city of Soacha, just outside Bogotá. // File Photo: U.N. OCHA.

Q

Approximately 74,000 people were forcibly displaced from their homes in Colombia last year, more than double the 2020 displacement figures in the Andean country, according to a report that the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released on Feb. 16. The main causes of forced displacement in Colombia have been “actions by non-state armed groups” against the civilian population, with direct attacks rising by 37 percent last year as compared to 2020, the report says. What factors have caused the sharp increase in violence by non-state actors, and how can the government better provide protection and access to humanitarian assistance for fleeing vulnerable populations? How is the government responding to the doubling of displaced people in Colombia? What does the trend indicate about the implementation of the country’s 2016 peace agreement? Given the upcoming May presidential elections, how might a different government address this issue?

A

Ramón Alberto Rodríguez, director general of the Colombian government’s Unit for Victims: “To date 130,369 people have been included in the Single Victims Registry due to forced displacement events in 2021. This represents a 35 percent increase against the previous year. However, it shows an 18 percent decline compared to 2019 and a 26 percent decrease compared to 2018. Against this backdrop, the Unit for Victims keeps guaranteeing the means and mechanisms for this population’s access to the Registry, so victims are able to get the measures of care, assistance and integral reparation they are entitled to. Additionally, in 2021 the Victims Law was extended until 2031…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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