![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-who-fled-fighting/934156-2-eng-GB/refugees-who-fled-fighting_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![More than 700 campaigners rallied before delivering anti-poverty messages to every EU embassy in London [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/campaign_images/trade_justice_campaign_images/embassy_bus/199633-2-eng-GB/embassy_bus_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Fatna (right) brings home wood that she and some neighbours have harvested from outside the camp in Kubum, south Darfur [Paul Jeffery/ACT/Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/sudan/images/fatna-right-brings-home-wood/247664-2-eng-GB/fatna-right-brings-home-wood_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Niccollette and Shrirvanie film the aftermath of the Guyanan floods, with support from CAFOD partner Guyana Human Rights Association [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/what-we-do/communications/images/after-guyana-floods/679742-1-eng-GB/after-guyana-floods_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
Colombia
Colombia is a country ravaged by violent conflict between the state and guerrilla groups, with its citizens suffering from gross human rights violations
Conflict has caused more than two million people to flee their homes, while the government has diverted resources away from investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
Political violence and drug-related crime make Colombia one of the most violent countries in the world, although the government is engaged in a demobilisation process with the paramilitaries.
However, the law being used for this does not allow for proper identification of the criminals, while those who admit their crimes only receive light punishments.
The paramilitaries are also increasing political and economic power, often by taking over the lands of the displaced. UN sources talk of a "complete paramilitarisation of Colombia", reinforcing an unjust social and economic system, and imposing severe limitations on dissent or opposition.
Key challenges:
Conflict: Colombia’s 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.
Human rights: Death threats, massacres, and torture are regularly committed by both sides. Around 3,000 people are kidnapped in Colombia every year, which provides income to guerrilla groups. Those who publicly criticise corruption, human rights abuses or lack of social provision are most at risk.
![More than three million people in Colombia have been forced to flee their homes during decades of fighting between guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and the army - the highest number of displaced people in the world after Sudan [CARITAS Colombia/CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/forced-to-flee-their-homes-/778622-1-eng-GB/forced-to-flee-their-homes-_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg)
Support our partners' struggle
The UK government has repeatedly been asked to press Colombian authorities to defend human rights. Please support this call
![Father Mauricio Garcia is director of CAFOD partner CINEP [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/father-mauricio-garcia/904438-1-eng-GB/father-mauricio-garcia_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
Father Mauricio García urges international pressure on the Colombian government to continue working for solutions to the country’s long conflict |
![Fabio Benavides, Caritas Colombia's advocacy officer [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/fabio-benavides/229809-2-eng-GB/fabio-benavides_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
CAFOD's partners are striving for peace in Colombia, but there is a lot of work to be done first, explains Fabio Benavides of Caritas Colombia |
![Father René Rey, project co-ordinator of the mobile health unit at Fundación EUDES [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/father-rene-rey-project-co-ordinator-at-fundacion-eudes/117918-4-eng-GB/father-rene-rey-project-co-ordinator-at-fundacion-eudes_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg) Direct message to those at risk Fundación EUDES is a church-based organisation, providing care and support to vulnerable groups living with HIV and AIDS in Colombia |
![SNPS provides training for women and ethnic groups to rediscover their cultural identities in order to cope better with the pressures of Colombia's ongoing conflict [SNPS/CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/training-for-trauma/4852-2-eng-GB/training-for-trauma_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
![A CAFOD EU-funded project helping families rebuild their lives by setting up community businesses such as coffee growing [CAFOD/Paul Smith]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/setting-up-community-businesses/905066-1-eng-GB/setting-up-community-businesses_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
