Francesca Fontanini
Regional Public Information Officer
Duty Station: Bogota, Colombia
I’m addressing the challenge of how to show country of origin that refugees and displaced people are capable of adding value to their own country when peace is back
Helping IDPs and refugees to return and effectively reintegrate through a rights and community-based approach will simultaneously address some of the root causes of the conflict and help prevent further displacement. The safe and dignified return of displaced populations and their effective reintegration can thus become an important indicator of peace and the end of conflict, and validate the post- conflict political order in which IDPs and refugee returnees will be salient agents of change for the new “Colombia of opportunities.” Last but not least, the return of local integration of displaced populations can also make an important contribution to the recovery of licit local economies and participatory development. They must be empowered to make a voluntary and informed choice on what durable solution they would like to pursue.
I want to find a solution to this challenge because success in reintegrating IDPs and refugees in safe and dignified conditions will substantially contribute to the recovery of the country and sustainable peace.
