Nature of the conflict
Internal armed conflict with several actors: guerrilla groups, paramilitary forces, Military Forces, and recently emerged after-demobilization armed groups.

Duration of the conflict
46 years, current conflict started in 1964.

Humanitarian aspects
Human Development Index (HDI): 77th.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs –UN, 7.500 persons (until August 2010) are internally displaced. Between 2002 and 2009 a number of 2.4 millions of persons have left their homes hiding from the conflict. 1.183.903 children are internally displaced.

Since 1990 to June 2010 the total of victims of landmines is 8.523. From 1990 to 2009 the total of girls was 165, and 621 boys, according to official information. Despite a reduction in 2009, Colombia is still the largest cultivator of coca bush with 81.000 hc., the 51% of the global production.

The long conflict has made peaceful coexistence an unknown concept for several generations of Colombians, and has created a permanent feeling of insecurity and mistrust among the population. This greatly affects relationships between people and the social structure of society.

Child soldiers
As a result of the protracted armed conflict, many children have been witness to, victim or even perpetrators of violence. Children risk being recruited by armed groups especially in rural areas, but also in the large marginalized urban areas, where fights take place regularly and in the poor outskirts of the cities.

Children also join armed forces ‘voluntary’, because of the situation they live in. Poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, sexual violence, child labor and domestic violence are some of the reasons why children are easy prey for recruitment and illegal use by armed groups.



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