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	Colombia’s lingering civil conflict by Reliefweb & agencies   “There are two Colombias,” says UNICEF Representative in Colombia Miriam de Figueroa.   “There is the one that has been prosperous. The one that has been growing, in terms of economics. But also we have the other Colombia, the one that shows tremendous inequities within each population and within the Afro-descendants, the indigenous the ones that live in the rural areas in the country.”   That inequity, combined with ethnic divisions and Colombia’s lingering civil conflict, has led to the formation of armed groups, criminal syndicates and drug-trafficking networks which actively try to recruit young people.   Building trust: protecting children in Colombia’s war. (Watchlist on Children)   At first, she said, they treated her “like a queen.” But shortly after recruiting then-nine-year-old Sofia from a small village in Colombia, the guerilla fighters began beating and raping her.   “For me, I didn’t have a childhood,” Sofia told us. ”It is a childhood that I do not wish for anybody.”   Sofia, whose real name is withheld for her protection, was in the hands of the armed group for five years. She is one of more than 10,000 boys and girls who have been pulled into Colombia’s decades-old war between guerillas, paramilitary units and government forces.   Children like Sofia are lured into armed groups under false promises of money and a job. Now, her name has been added to a “black list,” along with the names of others to be killed. As she knows where the rebels keep their money and how they recruit people, she says that it is more convenient for them to see her dead than alive.   When we asked how to prevent child recruitment, Sofia responded: “Tell children not to trust these guys.”   But the question is: Who is there to trust? In some of the most dangerous areas where the rebel groups have established the “de facto” authority, there are no local authorities, courts, schools, hospitals or police to take victims’ complaints or defend them against potential retaliation.   The government’s record on taking action against perpetrators is also far from encouraging: not a single case of recruitment of children by paramilitary groups has been convicted under the Justice and Peace Law, despite its promise to reveal the truth about the conflict.   As a result, few children, parents or community leaders confide in the government to help them if threatened or attacked. In addition, some view becoming a recruit as an option for their sons and daughters in the context of poverty, unemployment and insecurity.   The Colombian government must regain the confidence of its citizens. It must demonstrate that it’s serious about protecting children by increasing its presence in high-risk areas, allocating funding to areas where children need most help and punishing perpetrators regardless of their political affiliations.   This requires substantial investments in training local and regional staff so that children report to people deserving of their trust.   16 Days: “Land Is Dignity. Land Is Security.” (Refugees International)   Gender-based violence continues to affect millions of Colombian women and girls who’ve been displaced by ongoing internal conflict.   While all of the roughly 4 million Colombians displaced by violence have suffered human rights violations and economic insecurity, displaced women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, physical threats, and political marginalization.   Earlier this month, I spoke with lawyer Luz Estella Romero, founder and coordinator of the Colectivo Mujeres al Derecho (Women’s Rights Collective, or COLEMAD). Since 2003, her group has fought for the rights of displaced rural women in some of Colombia’s most violent regions.   Conflict in rural Colombia has always revolved around land, Ms. Romero said. After two decades of violence, illegal armed groups have firmly established themselves in rural areas, putting women at high risk for abuse.   “In territories controlled by the security forces, paramilitaries, and guerillas, sexual violence against women is linked to the dispossession of land and is used as a war tactic, in which women associated with opposition armed groups are sexually assaulted,” Ms. Romero said. “The violence and displacement is orchestrated by economic interests [like agricultural and mining companies] who want to profit from our land.”   Once women are displaced, they become even more vulnerable. Nearly 50 percent of displaced households are headed by women. And in a region where women have historically suffered from gender-based violence and discrimination, women face an uphill battle in reclaiming their rights and their land.   But rather than giving up, Colombia’s women got organized. In its fight to protect the human rights and dignity of women, COLEMAD brought together 34 regional organizations around two key issues: advocating for land restitution and fighting impunity.   “Women without land survive without anything,” Ms. Romero said. “Women can only find domestic work that pays less than $2 a day. These terrible conditions also make women victims of sexual violence, and none of the perpetrators are ever arrested or prosecuted.”   COLEMAD and its partner groups have lobbied the Colombian government, and even brought a case before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.   Because women activists have traditionally been ostracized in the region, COLEMAD also holds workshops for schoolchildren about the consequences of the armed conflict and the importance of women’s independence and activism.   Despite the Collective’s remarkable efforts, victims of violence almost never see their perpetrators successfully prosecuted, and most of Colombia’s displaced women continue to live lives of poverty, insecurity, and uncertainty.   “There is a saying I always like to quote when I am asked about the importance of land,” Ms. Romero concluded. “In the city, I cannot move from one house to another to bring my neighbor a coffee. In the country, there may be fences that separate us, but there are never barriers. For women, land is security. Land is dignity.”   Colombia’s government, led since 2010 by President Juan Manuel Santos, has changed its discourse in favour of those who have suffered human rights violations due the conflict and violence within the country.   However, it is yet to translate this into effective action to protect the rights of Colombia’s internally displaced people (IDPs) and other victims of conflict.   Displacement has continued in 2011 at the same rate as in previous years, as have attacks on IDPs and human rights activists. IDPs continue to have only limited access to the basic necessities of life.   The Observatory on Human Rights and Displacement, the leading NGO monitoring displacement in Colombia, released figures in September 2011 showing that some 89,000 people were displaced during the first half of the year. Visit the related web page
	All people must stand against terrorism by ICJ, United Nations & agencies   New York, 11 September 2011   The United Nations today marked the 10th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States with a vow to intensify the battle against terror wherever it is perpetrated in the world.   United Nations Secretary-General message commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States:   Terrorism has killed too many of our sons, daughters and mothers, our fathers, sisters and brothers. We cannot let it tear apart the human family.   On the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States of America, our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and with all those who suffered or lost friends and loved ones on that terrible day.   Dreams were shattered, and wounds were opened that will never heal.   To truly honour the memory of those who died – and the sacrifice of the brave responders who rushed to the scenes of the attacks – all people must stand against terrorism.   The attacks targeted more than one single country; they were an assault on humanity itself, and on the universal values of peace and dignity the United Nations was created to promote and defend.   That is why the United Nations stood in solidarity with the United States and with all affected people and countries. The Security Council and General Assembly joined their voices in a chorus that spoke for all countries in condemning the attacks and demanding justice.   The UN Alliance of Civilizations campaign has stepped up its efforts to counter the extremism and polarization that are so prominent in terrorism"s playbook by building bridges of trust and mutual understanding.   At the same time, we continue our long-standing work for peace, efforts that encompass preventive diplomacy, supporting democracy and working to keep failing states from descending into chaos.   Like so many other people and institutions around the world, the United Nations has also been a target of terrorism, including just two weeks ago in Nigeria. No cause or grievance can ever justify such wanton killing and destruction.   This challenge affects the entire world. The United Nations is determined to honour the memory of those who died ten years ago by galvanizing all countries in this necessary fight to seek justice, promote peace and build a better and more secure future for generations to come.   United Nations General Assembly President Joseph Deiss said, “We express our compassion and solidarity for all the victims of terrorist acts who are attacked randomly and without respite throughout the world. We are here to express our indignation at the cowardice of terrorism, condemn it firmly and categorically, combat it and see that the guilty are punished.”   UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said “the attacks targeted more than one single country; they were an assault on humanity itself, and on the universal values of peace and dignity the United Nations was created to promote and defend.”   * The International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism & Security held in Madrd in 2005 offered valuable views & resources see link below. Visit the related web page
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