UNWGEID Misión a Colombia.

Summary

Introduction

I. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
A. The internal armed conflict
B. The democratic security policy

II. CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES: CHANGES AND PROGRESS MADE SINCE 1988
A. Constitution of 1991
B. Criminal Code on disappearance
C. Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons

III. INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS
A. National Commission to Search for Disappeared Personsand the Urgent Search Mechanism
B. National Registry of the Disappeared
C. The Human Rights Ombudsman
D. Constitutional Court
E. Human rights units in the Government E/CN.4/2006/56/Add.1

IV. SHORTCOMINGS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAW
A. Gap between legal progress and practical implementation
B. Overlapping institutions and agencies, competing programmes and missions
C. Definition of the criminal offence of enforced disappearance and non-State actors
D. Tracing the fate and whereabouts of victimsE. Disappearance and underreporting of cases

V. MATTERS OF CONCERN
A. Legal provisions for demobilization of paramilitaries in relation to enforced disappearances
B. Protection regime and the environment of fear
C. Lack of political will

VI. CONCLUSIONS

VII.RECOMMENDATIONS
General
Specific

Appendix