H. Res. 426 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

July 11, 2007. 

Whereas Colombia has experienced the internal displacement 

of more than 3,800,000 people over the past 20 years, 

representing approximately 8 percent of Colombia’s population; 

Whereas Colombia’s internally displaced population is one of 

the worst humanitarian crises in the Americas, and the 

second largest internally displaced population in the 

world, after Sudan; 

Whereas more than 200,000 people continue to be displaced 

internally every year; 

Whereas Colombia’s internally displaced people are often 

forced from their homes multiple times, and fear repercussions if they identify their attackers; 

Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross and 

the World Food Program have found internally displaced 

people in Colombia to be poorer and more 

disenfranchised than the general population, with 70 percent suffering from food insecurity, inadequate shelter, or 

limited health care services; 

Whereas Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected by displacement, representing almost one-third of the internally displaced; 
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Whereas women and children also comprise a large majority 

of the internally displaced; 

Whereas very few internally displaced Colombians have been 

able to return to their original homes due to ongoing conflict throughout the country, and when returns take place 

they should be carried out voluntarily, in safety and with 

dignity; 

Whereas, in 1997, the Government of Colombia passed landmark legislation, known as Law 387, to guarantee rights 

and assistance to its internally displaced population; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia has expanded its ability to assist internally displaced people through its own 

agencies, and with the financial, technical, and operational support of the international community; 

Whereas the Constitutional Court of Colombia has handed 

down multiple decisions recognizing the insufficient nature of the government’s efforts to meet the basic needs 

of internally displaced persons and upheld the importance 

of implementing law 387 in light of the United Nations 

Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement; 

Whereas the Constitutional Court of Colombia, in consultation with the Government of Colombia, civil society, and 

the United Nations, has developed an extensive set of 

measurements to ensure government compliance with 

Law 387; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia, the international community, and civil society are engaged in the LondonCartagena Process to develop coordinated responses to 

domestic problems, including humanitarian assistance 

and internal displacement; 
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Whereas the Government of the United States provides valuable, but limited, humanitarian assistance through Plan 

Colombia, and has programs targeted specifically for internally displaced people; and 

Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, on a visit to Colombia in March 

2007, urged greater attention to the issue, stating that 

it should be a ‘‘national priority’’ and asked for ‘‘greater 

coherence’’ in programs to address the needs of the internally displaced: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— 

(1) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Colombian Catholic Church, and the 

Consultancy for Human Rights and Internal Displacement should be commended for their initiative to declare 

the Year of the Rights of the Internally Displaced People in Colombia; 

(2) the Government of Colombia and the international donor community should be encouraged to 

prioritize discussion of humanitarian assistance and internal displacement with the international donor community, especially within the context of the LondonCartagena Process; and 

(3) the Government of the United States should increase the resources it makes available to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and protection through 
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international and civilian government agencies, and assist Colombia’s internally displaced people in rebuilding 

their lives in a dignified, safe, and sustainable manner. 

Attest: 

Clerk.