Colombia
Assistance for the victims of armed violence
© D. Delvigne/Handicap International |
Handicap International has been working in Colombia on a permanent basis since 1997, first by supporting a Colombian organisation in Cartagena specialised in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, then by developing partnerships and activities with local institutions in different parts of the country. In 2008, from our Medellin and Cartagena offices, we intervened in five areas: Antioquia, Bolívar, Sucre, Santander and North Santander.
In Colombia, we work on three main issues: facilitating the access of people with disabilities to basic services and ensuring that their rights are being respected; providing assistance to civilian casualties of the armed conflict and specifically victims of antipersonnel mines; and promoting the participation of people with disabilities in the social and economic life of society by reinforcing associations of persons with disabilities.
Key Facts - Colombia
• Population: 46.3 million
• Household Consumption: $4,719 per year
• Life Expectancy: 73 years
• Human Development: ranked 79th out of 169 countries
Source: UNDP HDR 2011
Our projects
 | Assistance for the victims of antipersonnel mines
This project has two parts, the first aimed at improving the treatment of the victims of antipersonnel mine accidents by raising the awareness of authorities and local institutions which are often ill-informed about the range of possible aid for victims. The second part aims to improve the living conditions of the civilian victims of mine accidents while reinforcing the capacities of local institutions (hospitals, municipal administrations etc.) to improve the services they provide. |
 | Community-based rehabilitation
The objective of this project is to reinforce the capacities of people with disabilities. Local community-based rehabilitation committees identify a person's needs, conduct an analysis and consider the context and their family situation before implementing an action strategy in collaboration with the person and his relatives. This method facilitates the inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities. |
 | Support for local associations
Ten associations for persons with disabilities are benefitting from support to strengthen their structure and modes of operation so that they may claim their rights within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. |
