Returning to Everyday Life


Jul 23, 2016 | Gregor Maaß and Mario Pilz
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The success of Colombia’s peace talks will depend substantially on how the state chooses to address the needs of the 8 million people who were affected or displaced by the civil war. Researchers make proposals on how victim groups, municipal administrations and members of the business community can cooperate to develop local strategies in support of victims’ efforts to rebuild their lives.

What is the best way to help the victims of Colombia’s civil war to reintegrate into rural communities’ social and economic life? In the Caldas region in central Colombia, a research team has looked for answers, and the scholars from Berlin’s Humboldt University and the Colombian Autonomous University of Manizales (UAM) have came up with some proposals. They suggest:

  • strengthening local markets,
  • providing psychosocial support for victims and
  • improving coordination between farmers’ associations and groups of victims.