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Colombia
Colombia experiences extremely high levels of political and social violence, massive human rights abuses, and one of the most severe crises of internal displacement in the world. The internal crisis, including an armed conflict that has lasted almost forty years, aggravated by a drugs trade that has penetrated deep into Colombian economy and society, is affected by a complex interplay of domestic and international factors amongst which the international focus on drugs and terrorism have been central in recent years. ABColombia believes that the resulting situation is both a human rights and a humanitarian crisis that affects the poor and marginalised disproportionately, constrains civil society participation, and translates into profound injustices that undermine the search for a sustainable development model.

ABColombia
With two full-time staff, ABColombia is the advocacy project of a group of leading UK and Irish organisations with programmes in Colombia. It was founded to work on the question of forced internal displacement, but has expanded its mandate to cover human rights and development. ABColombia was established in 1997. Its name derives from the Spanish for “British and Irish Agencies working on Colombia” - Agencias Británicas e Irlandesas trabajando en Colombia.

Principles:
ABColombia opposes the use of violence to resolve Colombia’s conflict, believing instead that a better future for the country can only be achieved through dialogue and respect for human rights. While the internal conflict persists, ABColombia believes it should be waged with strict adherence by all parties to international humanitarian law.

Members:
Full members:
Cafod (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)
Christian Aid UKI
Oxfam GB
Save the Children UK
SCIAF (Scottish International Aid Fund)
Trócaire (official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland).

Observers:
Amnesty International
Peace Brigades International Colombia project.

ABColombia’s core advocacy work focuses on engaging decision-makers in the UK and Irish governments, the European Union and relevant United Nations institutions in order to advance the following objectives:

1. To secure the right of the civilian population not to be involved in the armed conflict.
2. To secure the full implementation of recommendations made by the UN system with regard to human rights, internal displacement and international humanitarian law.
3. To obtain lasting solutions to the humanitarian crisis – dignified and voluntary returns to place of origin, or voluntary resettlement with guarantees.
4. To support the work of human rights defenders, social organisations, and those working with the forcibly displaced.
5. To work for a negotiated end to the armed conflict that includes the voice of Colombian civil society.
6. To secure just and sustainable social and economic development in Colombia.

How ABColombia works
ABColombia members work with around 100 partner organisations in Colombia, most of them with little access to decision-making forums nationally or internationally.

The ABColombia office develops the collective advocacy work of members. This work is rooted in the experiences of the organisations and communities with which members work. In addition to carrying out its core advocacy work, ABColombia also provides information and analysis to members of parliament and the Dáil, the press, and interested individuals and organisations.

ABColombia works in conjunction with other organisations and networks based in Colombia, the UK, Ireland, Europe, the USA and Canada, which share its interests in influencing decision-making and policy on Colombia in accordance with the above principles and objectives.

Public statements by ABColombia represent the views of all the members. Membership of ABColombia does not preclude members from issuing statements under their own responsibility.

Membership is open to British and Irish organisations that share the aims and objectives of ABColombia. New members need to be accepted by all existing members, including observers.