Colombia

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez took office in August 2002. Once in office, he encountered the several challenges Colombia is faces, which would make it hard for him to move the country out of poverty. Numerous rural municipalities in Colombia remain isolated by poor infrastructure and fragile institutions; thus, it is no wonder that the country’s world known stereotype of corruption and kidnappings is not far from reality. Colombia’s poor infrastructure has led to violence, illicit crop cultivation, forced displacement, human rights abuses and huge income disparities, poverty and inadequate social services. The huge economic disparities should be taken seriously since Colombia is one of the most unequal societies on earth with 3% of the population owning 70% of the land.

According to official statistics, 49.2 percent of Colombia's population of 42 million lives in poverty, defined as a monthly income of less than 225,000 Colombian pesos (94 dollars), equivalent to about 55 percent of the national minimum monthly wage of 408,000 pesos (170 dollars). Democracy is something very relative in the country, making Colombia the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. In the last 15 years of those involved in trade union activities, over 3,000 workers have been killed - more than in the rest of world combined. As a consequence, thousands of workers are forced to live in poverty, which explains why there are such economic disparities. People living in extreme poverty, or indigence, are defined as those with an income of up to 37.6 dollars a month, or 1.2 dollars a day, who can only barely cover the cost of food.

The goods and services basket was about $96 two decades ago. Instead, nowadays when it was updated, the number moved to $121 –at 2005 prices—. The government hesitated before accepting such facts as official since it would leave those already living in poverty with a deficit of $25 dollars a month to even get the basic goods and services, and thus the “newest” basket was created –27 dollars cheaper-. Still, for those workers with an income of 37.6, even the newest basket is out of reach, leaving most of the population with a poor nutritional status, and a low, if existent at all, access to public services such as education and healthcare.

Unfortunately when one thinks of vacationing to Colombia the fear of assaults and kidnappings that stereotype the country come to mind. Colombia is known for its constant negotiations with paramilitary groups; there were many attempts to agree on a humanitarian exchange between the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) and The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) among many other groups. However, Colombia lacks of an appropriate legal framework to guarantee the rights to truth, justice and reparations of victims in accordance with international norms.

According to an UN Report, starting in April 2004 the so-called Plan Patriota was put into effect in the south of the country, the largest military operation in modern Colombian history. Its main stated objectives were to strike a blow at the rear guard of the FARC-EP and to capture its principal leaders. The security forces took action against the paramilitary groups, but on a smaller scale compared to the actions taken against the FARC-EP. During 2004, the FARC-EP and the ELN carried out a series of attacks against the civilian population, including several massacres of civilians and kidnappings by the FARC-EP.

Nowadays, Colombia’s human rights situation continues to be critical. There are continuously increasing reports of extrajudicial executions attributed to members of the security forces and other public official. Members of the army and the Attorney-General’s Office take the freedom to conduction arrests and mass searches without an appropriate legal basis. In addition, there were cases of tampering with evidence and witnesses. Continuing links between public officials and the illegal armed groups, particularly paramilitaries, were evident in the context of various allegations in which State responsibility was attributed by direct action or omission.

The illegal armed groups, particularly the FARC-EP and the paramilitaries, continued to commit serious and numerous breaches such as attacks on the civilian population, indiscriminate attacks, homicides, massacres, hostage-taking, acts of terrorism, forced displacements, use of antipersonnel mines, recruitment of minors, slavery, and attacks on the personal integrity and dignity of women and girls in the context of acts of sexual violence. There were allegations of breaches attributed to members of the security forces, particularly the army, such as homicides, indiscriminate attacks, forced displacements, and attacks on the personal integrity and dignity of women.

Because of the internal corruption even high-level government officials on occasion questioned the legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders and their organizations. Thus, a trend can be seen of paramilitaries seeking to become a political actors and getting such space. As a conclusion, the Colombian population is subject to a life of fear, in which the next target of the paramilitaries is unknown and human rights are nothing but bureaucracy.

The main modes of transmission in HIV epidemic in Colombia are men having sex with men and heterosexual transmission which are responsible for three quarters of HIV infection and an increase trend of the latest. In Colombia, sex between men is the primary mode of transmission in the highlands, and heterosexual transmission plays a larger role in the Atlantic Coast region, Orinoquia and the Amazon region.

According to the CIA Factbook the following are the facts on HIV/AIDS:
160,000: Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005
0.6%: Estimated percentage of adults (ages 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005
28%: Estimated percentage of women (ages 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005
8,200: Estimated number of deaths due to AIDS during 2005

The government is aware of the AIDS/HIV situation but yet the country in general does not appear to be ready to take some drastic measures. In 2006, The Tulua Colombia Town Council voted 10-6 to reject a proposal that would have required that men and boys over age 14 carry condoms, or otherwise pay a fine of &180. As an alternative, the council voted to approve a measure that will increase sex education and install machines throughout the town to dispense condoms.

Colombia's main environmental problems are soil erosion, deforestation and the preservation of its wildlife. Most deforestation in Colombia has occurred because of the commercial exploitation of the country’s forests which cover approximately 45% of the country. By the mid-1990s, Colombia had the tenth-largest area of mangrove swamps in the world, covering under half a million ha (1,235,500 acres).

The nation ranked forty-third globally in industrial carbon dioxide emissions in the early 1990s, with a total of 61.5 million metric tons. In 1996, total emissions were at 63.3 million metric tons. Air pollution from vehicle emissions is also a problem, especially in Bogota, the capital city. Safe drinking water is available to 99% of urban dwellers and 70% of the rural population.

According to the Nations Encyclopedia, the Colombian government has initiated several programs to protect the environment. By 1959, the Amazon forests, the Andean area and the Pacific coast were protected. In 1973, the government created the National Resources and Environment Code. The main environmental agency is the Institute for Development of Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment (INDERENA), established in 1969. Among other activities, it has undertaken extensive projects in the training of personnel in conservation, fishing, and forestry.

Endangered species in Colombia include the tundra peregrine falcon, Cauca guan, gorgeted wood-quail, red siskin, pinche, five species of turtle (green sea, hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, and arrau), two species of alligator (spectacled caiman and black caiman), and two of crocodile (American and Orinoco). By 2001, 35 of Colombia's 359 species of mammals, 64 in a total of 1,770 breeding bird species, 15 reptile species in a total of 356, and 429 of 51,000 plant species were endangered. The Colombian grebe and the Caribbean monk seal have become extinct.

Happily, illiteracy in Colombia is declining, having dropped from an estimated 90% at the end of the 19th century to an estimated 8.2% in 2000 for both sexes. The constitution provides that public education shall not conflict with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and education is free and compulsory for five years in Colombia. The national government supports secondary as well as university education and maintains a number of primary schools throughout the country.

Colombia must spend at least 10% of its annual budget on education as state by their Law. Financing and supervision of public education is the joint responsibility of the Ministry of Education, the departments, and the municipalities. Secondary/ technical education and universities are administered by the Ministry of Education. The central government also pays teachers' salaries.

According to the CIA Fact book the total literacy rate in 2005 was of 93% (93.1 female, 92.9 male). Also, there is a pretty decent ratio of students per teacher of 27:1, promoting equal access to education.

Abuso Sexual y Maltrato Infantil - programs for prevention of and therapy for sexually abused and battered children.

Asociación Niños de Papel - NGO devoted to rescuing and nurturing children who were victims of paramilitary attacks or abandonment.

Asociación Red Nacional de Reservas Naturales de la Sociedad Civil - NGO dedicated to the conservation of natural reserves and ecology overall.

Asociación Terapia Especializada con Animales - TEA – a non profit organization aimed towards the investigation and scientific development of efficient methods to protect animals used for forced labor. The organization intends to combine practical solutions for professionals, while protecting the animals.

Colombia Support Network - is a grassroots organization, with 501 (c)(3) status, created to give solidarity to the colombian people through sister city projects, delegations and petitions to educate members of the u.s. government.

Confederación Colombiana de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales - CCONG – the organization counts on legal personnel aimed to help different districts of the country. currently, they count on 12 federal departments and 18 internationa ong working together to represet 1000 colombian orgs.

Corporación Transparencia por Colombia- NGO dedicated to the fight against corruption and public interest matters.

Ecofondo - Ecofondo is recognized by colombian laws as a non profit organization aimed towards the protection of the environment.

Fundación Ecovivero - non-governmental organization originated in cali – vally of the cuaca- in 1992. the organization works towards the protection of native flora species in risk of extinction.

Peace Brigades International - a non-partisan international organization committed to practicing nonviolence in conflict areas, by sending unarmed, volunteer international peace teams, when invited, into areas of repression or conflict.

Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange - sends volunteers to work with communities overseas in social and welfare placements abroad for one year or six months.

Long-Term Projects in Colombia (6 months/ one year) - As a long-term volunteer, you will have the exciting opportunity to gain an even deeper understanding and appreciation of a foreign land and culture through humanitarian service, language and intercultural training, cultural learning activities, and exploration.

Volunteers For Peace - VFP offers over 3400 affordable, short-term voluntary service projects in 100+ countries including some annual projects in Colombia. These international voluntary service projects are an opportunity to participate in meaningful community service.

Human Rights Accompaniment in Colombia - San Jose de Apartado, located in Colombia's northern region of Uraba, is one of many communities in Colombia that have taken an extraordinary and nonviolent stand against war, by refusing to support any armed actor involved in Colombia's decades-long conflicts.
The FOR Accompaniment Project seeks to obtain these objectives through the following activities:
* Accompaniment of Peace Community: FOR observers will physically accompany members of La Unión in San Jose de Apartado, in the settlement and work areas, in order to strengthen their security. FOR observers may also accompany Peace Community members while they travel outside the community, and other settlements of San Jose on occasion. FOR observers carry out accompaniment on the basis of requests from the community.
* Reporting to International Community: FOR observers in San Jose report, including via public communications, on their experiences and what they learn to the international community, especially the United States. As resources permit, FOR will also report on peace initiatives in Colombia besides the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado.
* Communication with Colombian U.S. and UN officials, CPP Advisory group, and human rights NGOs: FOR observers periodically communicate their presence and concerns to Colombian and U.S. authorities, to convey FOR's concerns related to the community and to learn from others? perspectives.

Volunteer in Colombia at an Elderly Homeless Shelter - Let's Go Volunteer is a Colombian non profit organization that helps out in diverse grassroots projects. It takes place in a sunny mid-size city named Ibague, located 200 kms south of Bogota, capital of Colombia. – aimed torwards elderly homeless people.

Volunteer in Colombia at a Children's Center - Let's Go Volunteer is a Colombian non profit organization that helps out in diverse grassroots projects. It takes place in a sunny mid-size city named Ibague, located 200 kms south of Bogota, capital of our Colombia- aimed towards children.

Long Term International Placements - Are you interested in exploring a new culture whilst contributing to the development of some of the world's poorest communities? ICYE-UK is currently looking for motivated and open-minded individuals to take part in voluntary projects worldwide.

Training Displaced Children for the Workforce - Nuevo Futuro, through the 8 houses it owns, provides a nurturing home for abandoned children to grow up in a family-like environment. Each house has a pair of long term, dedicated "parents" who look after the development of the children, as well as designated nutritionists, psychologists and a pedagogue to help these children grow up in as normal a home as possible.