New Infographic Shows Human Costs of Colombian Conflict
Last week, representatives of the Colombian government and the FARC rebel group began a 29th round of peace negotiations in Havana. Over the coming days, victims of the conflict will give testimony to the negotiators, who will eventually decide on the process for recognizing and compensating the many victims of the decades-long civil struggle.
The Latin America Working Group, one of Security Assistance Monitor's partner organizations, has published an excellent and sobering infographic detailing the significant human costs of the Colombian conflict. These atrocities at the hands of the State, leftist guerrillas and paramilitaries, have gone on for over 50 years and continue today.
The document highlights the fact that paramilitaries are responsible for killing thousands of people in more than 1,100 documented massacres over the years. As Telesur recently reported, paramilitaries continue to pose a major threat to Colombian citizens, having killed 78 human rights defenders since 2013.
LAWG also points out that 250,000 Colombians have been newly displaced since 2012. Criminal groups known as BACRIM have likely superseded the conflict with the rebels as the major cause of this astronomic figure. The BACRIM, which largely grew out of "demobilized" paramilitary groups, represent one of the major security challenges facing the Colombian government going forward.
As talks between the guerrillas and the Colombian government move forward, LAWG's publication serves as a reminder of the high stakes of the negotiations and the importance of reaching a peace agreement. However, it also underscores the fact that even if the negotiations yield peace with the rebels, Colombia will continue to need support to face security challenges from organized crime, paramilitary groups and even its own security forces going forward.