IDPs in Colombia: the necessary step towards effective protection

The modern history of Colombia has been tied up to conflict and socio-political violence, directly linked to struggles over land and power, and the economic marginalisation of small farmers. The conflict is composed by a patchwork of guerrilla groups, paramilitary groups, poor farmers, drug cartels, and the regular army, which engage in criminal activities such as massacres against communities, selective assassinations and forced disappearances or use of anti-personal landmines, resulting in thousands of civilian victims and humanitarian catastrophes. The most notorious outcome of this catastrophe is the continuing phenomenon of Forced Displacement. This article is aimed at outlining the steps that need to be taken in order to effectively protect Internally Displaced People (IDPs)