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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202001-007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2001Contact: USAID Press Office
ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT
TOTAL: $42.5 millionVoluntary Eradication Programs
$42.5 million
- USAID is providing economic incentives to assist 5,000 farmers eliminate 10,000 hectares of coca and develop long-term agricultural and livestock alternatives in six municipalities in the Department of Putumayo.
- Over five years, USAID will contribute to the voluntary abandonment of 30,000 hectares of small-farmer coca production throughout Colombia.
- Initial efforts are focused on the municipalities of Puerto Asis, Puerto Guzman, Villa Garzon, and Puerto Caicedo
- Agricultural incentives will include modern production technologies, processing, credit, marketing, and assistance to producer organizations.
- In remote coca-producing areas licit production will include agro-forestry and tree cropping programs tailored towards indigenous populations.
- Agro-forestry systems will be tailored to financial and ecological conditions of small farms in remote tropical lowland regions.
- Activities will include integrated pest management training for producer groups, promoting long-term forest management, and coordinating cross-border environmental programs between southern Colombia and northern Ecuador. USAID activities will facilitate access to improved schools, health services, potable water, sewerage and electricity.
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
TOTAL: $47.0 millionLocal Government Assistance
$22 million
- USAID assistance to local governments - community level alternative development - will help build a more transparent, responsive and participatory democracy.
- Building on alternative development and civil society programs, local government assistance will enable municipalities to improve efficiency and accountability and increase citizen oversight.
- Technical assistance and support will be provided to popularly-elected local government officials in order to help them to fulfill their social service functions. For example, grants will be offered to strengthen local social infrastructure - schools, health and community centers.
Strengthening Human Rights Institutions
$7 million
- In concert with Colombian government agencies and civil society organizations already working for human rights, this program will improve the capacity of major human rights institutions and groups to make citizens aware of their rights, document human rights violations, and monitor individual cases.
- Educational outreach activities for citizens to inform them of their rights and responsibilities within a democracy and a human rights early warning system on how to permit preventive action in case of anticipated violations.
- Additionally, USAID is helping improve information systems and monitoring mechanisms currently used to track and report abuses and to monitor investigations and prosecution by government authorities.
Protection of Human Rights Workers
$4 million
- USAID's protection program complements the Colombian Ministry of the Interior and local NGO program which provide basic protective measures such as bodyguards, radio communication networks, bullet-proof vests, armed vehicles, metal detectors, and reinforced doors for human rights organizations, their workers, journalists and the country's labor unions.
Judicial System Reform
$5 million
- USAID supports Colombia's transition to a modern accusatorial system of criminal justice. Funding will assist Colombia in implementing and modifying its criminal procedure code, criminal code and related statutes. USAID is training judges on introduction and training in oral, accusatory, and transparent trial procedures, and adoption and implementation of effective investigative techniques. Two oral courtrooms are open; ten more are anticipated this year.
- USAID works with the Superior Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice to promote needed policy reforms, informed public debate, and to increase public trust.
- Code reform will be paired with a public education program to ensure due process and transparency and to gain public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.
Public Defender Program
$2 million
- Additional public defenders will be trained and placed in high priority areas, such as Putumayo.
- Increased numbers of trained public defenders will improve legal representation and enhance human rights improvements for poor defendants.
Casa de Justicia Judicial Program
$1 million
- USAID has funded 15 new Casas de Justicia (Justice Houses) to make community legal aid and mediation services broadly available to ordinary Colombians. A total of 40 Casas are expected.
- These USAID-supported centers include a public defender, prosecutor, an ombudsman, and conflict mediators.
Anti-corruption Program
$3 million
- The USAID component of the anti-corruption program will strengthen Colombian municipal financial controls and increase citizen oversight of public resources.
- This program will establish standards and procedures, train audit staff, and assist adoption of modern audit techniques within municipalities.
- NGOs will receive funding to organize awareness campaigns and support citizen oversight committees.
Conflict Management and Peace Process
$3 million
- USAID will assist the government of Colombia to evaluate its negotiation strategies and to refine approaches to social and economic issues that surround the negotiations with the FARC and ELN.
- Assistance will also be provided to NGOs, universities and other civil society groups to gather data to conduct studies, facilitate forums for dialogue, and the discussion of issues.
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
TOTAL $30 millionAssistance for Internally Displaced Persons
$27.5 million
- USAID works through U.S. NGOs, International Organizations and their Colombian counterparts to deliver mid to long-term assistance to displaced persons.
- In order to stabilize communities, promote democratic participation, and support access to social services USAID will focus on providing better health and education services, shelter, employment opportunities, and vocational training.
- The strengthened local ability to provide social services and the ability of international organizations to assist in returning or relocating displaced people will increase community stability.
Rehabilitation of Child Soldiers
$2.5 million
- Funds will provide for the demobilization and rehabilitation of child soldiers in Colombia.
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