Colombian official body releases figures showing high rates of conflict-related violence in 2017

Colombia’s government body the Unique Register of Victims (Register Único de Victimas) has released figures showing that, despite the 2016 peace agreement, in 2017 many Colombians continued to be negatively affected by conflict-related phenomena. These aggressions included forced displacement, intimidation, gender-based violence and discrimination, property theft and murder.

The Register found 54,000 people were forcibly displaced in 2017, which represents 79 per cent of the year’s total number of victims. The worst-affected regions were the departments of Chocó (9,684 cases), Nariño (7,776), Antioquia (5,904) and Norte de Santander (5,512).

There were over 12,000 victims of threats or intimidation. Antioquia was the worst region with 2,196 cases, followed by Nariño (1.977) Valle del Cauca (1.424) and Chocó (847). Over 220 social leaders were intimidated, while 63 were murdered. This figure is lower than other sources which have found over 130 social leaders killed throughout the year.

Sexual violations increased in 2017 to over 17,000 cases nationwide, an 8.7 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures. The figure is likely to be significantly higher due to many crimes going unreported.

There were also at least 554 cases of stolen property, a reduction on the previous year.

In all these violations, illegal armed groups were found to be the main perpetrators.

While it is difficult to gather entirely accurate figures over the ongoing effects of conflict violence in Colombia, the Register shows that the peace process has failed to provide security to a high number of civilians.

Source: Pacifista