Representatives of several organizations from all regions of the country specialized in the matter met in the international seminar on Antipersonnel mine victims’ assistance for four days to talk about their experiences. This encounter was led by the Presidential Program for Mine Action (Paicma) and sponsored by the European Commission for Colombia and Ecuador, as well as by the National Government.
The initiative, which had the participation of both international and national experts, became the ideal venue to discuss the different issues, including the basis of the effective enjoyment of rights approach for the assistance to victims of antipersonnel mines (AP) and unexploded ordnance (Uxo), and for the rendering of psychosocial monitoring and assistance, physical rehabilitation and lastly, achieving the socioeconomic reintegration of victims to their communities.
During his speech, Andrés Dávila Ladrón de Guevara, Director of the Paicma, highlighted that “it is of the upmost importance for the Program to execute a leadership, coordination and articulation mission, but we cannot do it alone. This is a joint task where we can provide a small boost” but the results and their effectiveness will be much greater as we jointly continue to undertake the discussion, concentration and consensus. At some points it will be very difficult, but we need to achieve our goal”.
During the seminar, Economist Luís Carlos Corral Strassmann presented the conference titled ‘Construction of indicators and the role of follow-up, monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of rights focused public policies’.
“This was a very interesting experience; the work achieved was innovative, it is an issue that requires much more input, but it also helps us to understand the project’s relevance and value in the country”, said the guest lecturer, who has a master’s degree in Economics from Universidad de los Andes.
For the Colombian expert, María Angélica Serrato, one of the biggest debates generated at the working groups is that psychosocial assistance is not clearly shown in the assistance route for victims of AP and Uxo. “The request made was to start making the issue visible. Identify the existing transversality in every assistance route and in every action undertaken from the moment the disability is acquired”, she indicated.
Among the recommendations offered during the seminar, specifically in the physical rehabilitation approach, lecturer Claudia Medina Aguilar, project and research director from the Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax), stated that it is “very important to stop thinking from the centralized offer of healthcare centers and really think about empowering the communities and seeking a community-based rehabilitation”.
The encounter was attended by members of the National Association of Mine Survivors (Sobrevimap), who actively participated in the working groups and offered products elaborated by them to those present at the seminar. (If you are interested in purchasing any product, contact their manager and legal representative, Luz Adriana Zapato Uribe, at 311 711 3953 or (4) 232 1168 in Medellín Email: sobrevimap@gmail.com).
Thus came to an end the international seminar on ‘Antipersonnel mine victims’ assistance’ which took place from August 18th to 21st after a busy week of speeches, debates and exchange of experiences between delegations from different non-government organizations, government entities, departmental operators and antipersonnel mine victims.
This Seminar fulfilled one of the goals foreseen in the “Institutional Strengthening of Colombian Mine Action” project sponsored by the European Commission for Colombia and Ecuador and the National Government.
Listen to a few comments by people who participated in the international seminar on ‘Antipersonnel mine victims’ assistance’ in www.accioncontraminas.gov.co/noticias/2009/agosto2409.html (Available only in Spanish)
This seminar is part of the activities preceding the Second Review Conference of the AP Ban Convention, an event that will summon the Convention’s 156 State Parties and the Organizations related to this matter in Cartagena de Indias, from November 29th to December 4th, 2009.
