memorandum of justification concerning human ... - Just the Facts

are victims.
UNCLASSIFIED
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The Awá were also part of USAID‘s Productive Ethnic Territories Project, begun
in May 2008, which looks for alternative products that bring minimal level of
development to Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities in Cauca, Nariño, and the
municipality of Buenaventura. However, in late 2008 they decided to pull out of the
project for security reasons.
Training for the Armed Forces on Rights of Indigenous Persons
Throughout 2008 and 2009, the Government of Colombia continued to develop its
Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. With regard to
indigenous communities, an intense training program continued for members of the
Armed Forces, National Police, and government officials from the 10 departments with
the highest indigenous populations. Participants included officers and members from
brigades and battalions located in the following departments: Córdoba, Antioquia,
Chocó, Cauca, Nariño, Magdalena, César, Guajira, Tolima, and Caldas. This training
program is focused on human rights, international humanitarian law, and Colombian
legislation as these relate to the country‘s indigenous populations. It includes five
modules: Colombia‘s Indigenous Communities and Cultures; The State: Democracy and
Responsibility; Judicial and Multicultural Pluralism; Human Rights and Indigenous
Communities; and International humanitarian law and Indigenous Communities.
As part of this program, and with participation from the Ombudsman‘s Delegate for
Ethnic Minorities, from June 11, 2008, 43 to June 15, 2009, the Ministry of Defense
conducted 19 regional workshops for the Armed Forces and local indigenous authorities
on fortifying respect for indigenous communities, implementing instructions on the
treatment of these groups and how to handle operations on territory belonging to
indigenous communities, and increasing awareness and use of communication
mechanisms that exist between these groups and the Armed Forces. These workshops
were attended by 1,709 members of the Armed Forces. These workshops took place:
1) Quibdó (Chocó) - June 11-13, 2008: Attended by 122 members of the Batallon
Infanteria Manozalva Florez
2) Cúcuta (Norte de Santander) – July 9-11, 2008: Attended by 169 members of the
Grupo Mechanizado Maza
3) Pasto (Nariño) – August 13-15, 2008: Attended by 101 members of the Batallon
Infanteria Boyaca
4) Mocoa (Putumayo) – September 10-12, 2008: Attended by 88 members of the
43 Date range widened to include a workshop that was not included in the last certification.
UNCLASSIFIED