“The State must work together to settle the historic debt to the victims”: Ombudsman

This Saturday, April 9, the date on which the National Day of Memory and Solidarity with Victims is commemorated, the Office of the Ombudsman called on the institutions of the Colombian State to work together to “settle society's historic debt to the victims of the armed conflict.”

The entity recognized the “tireless struggle” demonstrated by the victims in the country, which, according to data collected by the National Center for Historical Memory (CNMH), exceed nine million people throughout the national territory, while inviting society to surround this seriously violated population in order to contribute to national reconciliation and peace-building.

“All entities must have a very active position as generators of policies, and that their support is effective in guaranteeing the rights of victims,” said the Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, who called on State institutions to work in a coordinated manner for this population that has suffered different violations of their rights by the different armed actors.

In addition, the Office of the Ombudsman highlighted the support provided to public policy, which was envisaged in the National Development Plan, which took into account the participation of victims, as well as the strengthening of the budget for the care and reparation of this population, especially in the most remote territories in which there is little or no institutional presence, and which has been denounced since the formation of the republic.

The Ombudsman also pointed out that the election of the 16 Special Territorial Constituencies of Peace (CTEP) should be recognized, that is, the 16 seats in the House of Representatives that were reserved for the victims of the armed conflict, who should “become the first spokespersons for the population most affected” by the violence in their territories.

“The best tribute we want to offer to victims is to continue strengthening our efforts to promote, control and demand their rights to truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. In the Office of the Ombudsman we are united by the rights of victims”, concluded defender Carlos Camargo.

According to CNMH data, most victims in the country have suffered kidnappings, forced displacement, targeted killings, landmines, sexual assaults, homicides out of combat and massacres, which would mean that one in five citizens in the country has been the victim of one of these attacks.

For their part, the embassies of Germany, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland and the Organization of American States MAPP/OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia, through a joint statement, joined the commemoration of this date.

Through a letter, officials sent a message to the victims and assured that with their perseverance, “they have shown that despite the deep wounds left by violence, it is possible to bet on the path to peace. We will continue to accompany them on their way to complete peace.”

KEEP READING