Colombia: New report highlights dire situation for displaced afro-Colombians
| Publisher | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) |
| Publication Date | 4 April 2012 |
| Cite as | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC), Colombia: New report highlights dire situation for displaced afro-Colombians, 4 April 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f7d66a92.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A report released on 29 March by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) highlighted grave concerns for afro-Colombian IDPs in the department of Chocó, Colombia. WOLA reports that afro-Colombian communities have fled, been trapped or confined by threats and violence by the country's armed groups. Once displaced, they face assassination or forced recruitment by paramilitary groups, as well as discrimination while accessing government support such as housing and income generation.
This report is particularly concerning as Chocó has a predominantly afro-Colombian population. According to the latest census, 82% of the population in Chocó is afro-Colombian. According to UN OCHA in January and February of 2012, 20 mass displacements took place in Chocó, Cauca, and Nariño, most of which affected afro-Colombian or indigenous communities. This suggests that afro-Colombians and other minorities are being particularly targeted by armed groups in these areas.
