Colombia is considered to be one of the most violent countries in
the world. An internal conflict between insurgent guerrilla
movements and the country's military has been taking place for
more than four decades. In addition Colombia's narcotraffic has
intensified violent actions by guerrilla groups, paramilitaries,
drug producers and traders. (Source: Plan Colombia, IMF report on
Colombia, 2001).

As a result the country is now faced with one of the severest
Internally Displaced Population (IDP) crisis in the world.
According to the leading displacement monitoring Group, CODHES
(Consultoría para los derechos humanos y el desplazamiento)
over 2.8 million Colombians have been displaced by violence since 1985.
Although the Government estimates that just over 1 million people have
been displaced since 1994 (Red Solidaridad Social, March, 2003)
all sources agree that the annual number of new displacements
has significantly increased since 1993. In 2002 the crisis
intensified with the result that the annual IDP number represented
a 20% increase compared to 2001.

For more information on the Colombian IDP crisis

Suggested link for more information on Colombia





Population and economic data


Population: 43 Million
Urban Population: 75.5%
Internally Displaced population(1): 2-3 Million (2)
Population below the poverty line: 18 Million
Adult Literacy Rate: 92%
Total unemployment rate: 20.5%
Youth Unemployment (3): 37%
GNI/Capita (4): US$ 1,890


(1) Estimates vary according to source
(2) Of which 73% are women and children
(3) 15-24 years old
(4) Gross National Income formerly referred to as GNP

Sources: World Bank, Indicators database, April 2003;
UNICEF Executive Board, January 2001; UNICEF, economic indicators, 2003



Situation of the children in Colombia


Population under 18: 16.5 Million
Est. number of children living in poverty: 6.5 Million
Total underaged(child) labor: 2.5 Million (1)
Est. number of abused children per year: 2 Million
Est. number of children enrolled by Guerrilla groups: 6,000-7,000 (2)
Est. number of children living on the streets in urban areas: 30,000 (3)
Number of kidnapped children: 1,254 (3)
Number of kidnapped children so far in 2003: 86 (5)
Average number of children dying of violent death per day: 7

(1) Between 12-17 years: 1.7 Million
Between 6-11 years: 800,000
(2) Between 15-17 years
(3) Of which 37% are in Bogotá
(4) Between 1996-2001
(5) Total kidnappings as of May, 2003: 676 (Source: Fundación País Libre)


Sources: World Bank, Indicators database, April 2003,
UNICEF Colombia, most recent data, 2003 (http://www.unicef.org/colombia/08-prot.htm);
UNICEF Executive Board, January 2001, Fundación País Libre, 2003

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