here - Center on International Cooperation - New York University

Central America and the Caribbean | 1074.2M i s s i o n N o t e sCentral America and the CaribbeanSince its founding in 1948, the Organizationof American States (OAS) has served as theprimary political forum in the America’s regionthat works to address issues of peace and justiceamongst its 35 member states. In serving this role,the OAS has deployed a variety of missions duringits history, below are descriptions of four missionscurrently in the field.ColombiaSince January 2004 the Organization of AmericanStates (OAS) Mission to Support the PeaceProcess in Colombia (MAPP) has been deployedto support the ongoing dialogue between the Governmentof Colombia and opposition forces, verifyand monitor the demobilization of the rightwing rebel group, United Self Defense Forces ofColombia (UAC), as well as to provide support tocommunities who were victims of violence.Originally a mission of only 44 civilian experts,MAPP’s size was roughly doubled in 2006 followinga critical performance assessment conducted bythe OAS and growing criticism from ColombianNGOs that the mission lacked the resources togo beyond basic demobilization verification. Theenhanced mission strength yielded a heightenedMAPP presence and activity in the field. Since itsestablishment, MAPP has assisted in the disarmingof over 30,000 UAC paramilitaries and t<strong>here</strong>bel group no longer appears as an actor on thepolitical stage.Despite this progress, in the first half of 2010OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulzawarned that just as the mission had contributed tothe evolution of stability in Colombia, challengesrelated to the reintegration of the demobilizedUAC fighters and the emergence of illicit sub-statestructures threatened the country’s achievements.Indeed, during the year, MAPP observed theincreasing phenomenon of paramilitary “recycling,”w<strong>here</strong> illegal armed groups comprised of boththe dismantled forces and new adolescent recruitshave emerged seeking to control illegal economicactivities. These units are connected to drug traffickingactivities and over the course of the lastthree years have established presences throughoutColombia’s territory. The emergence of the groupshas had a deleterious effect on the peace processw<strong>here</strong> as a result of extortion, murders – whichrose by alarming levels in urban centers throughoutthe year - and acts of intimidation, the majorityof Colombia’s population sees little change in theirpersonal security.Recognizing the necessity for a comprehensivenational strategy aimed at stemming recruitmentto illegal armed groups, providing reintegrationopportunities and reinforcing the authorityof the state, MAPP worked closely with Colombia’sDepartment for Reintegration (ACR) in itsongoing development of a National ReintegrationPolicy. From MAPP’s perspective, Colombia’sreintegration model must rest on the commitmentof society as a whole to coexist peacefully. Here,the participation of Colombia’s private sector