Colombia: Victims Law Seeks to Repair Losses from Armed Conflict

With the possibility of an end to the 50-year armed conflict in Colombia, the Victims and Land Restitution Law is taking on added importance. The law, enacted four years ago, was adopted as part of measures designed to demobilize paramilitary units that operated in the Colombian countryside. in 2011, Of the 7 million registered victims, 86% were forcibly displaced from their lands and homes. In the four years since the law was enacted, 50,000 victims have been assisted. The return of their land is only part of the solution, as social and security guarantees must be provided so that the victims can resume their lives in peace and dignity. The underlying issues of unequal wealth and land ownership must also be addressed as part of a long-term solution. Natalia Margarita reports from Bogota. teleSUR