Caritas Colombia aims to promote integral human development and works towards the creation of a society, based on solidarity, justice, peace and respect for human rights. It operates against the background of a long history of violent conflict between the state and guerrilla groups that have inflicted gross human rights violations on the Colombian people and diverted government resources away from education, healthcare and infrastructure.

The civil war kills thousands of civilians each year and those living in potentially profitable or strategic rural territory are driven out by guerrillas or paramilitaries. More than 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Programmes

Caritas Columbia is involved in programmes that address:

• Peace building – promoting peace and reconciliation, defending human rights, assisting the victims of the conflict and supporting the most vulnerable people;
• Poverty reduction – civil society issues, bringing together public and private organizations to develop strategies for reducing poverty and inequality;
• Emergency assistance – providing food, shelter, medical assistance and counselling for those affected by natural disasters and armed conflict, rehabilitation assistance in the form of income generating projects and housing, and training in risk reduction and disaster preparedness in disaster-prone areas;
• Rural livelihoods – protection of the environment and natural resources, self-sufficiency, sustainable agriculture, access to markets and the preservation of traditional rural wisdom;
• Protecting workers’ rights, particularly for women and young people, strengthening workers organisations and community networks;
• Health care training and care of the elderly; 
• Support for prisoners and their families.