The UK’s strategy for conflict prevention focuses on maximising efforts in areas where UK co-operation in Colombia has been successful and also those where increased endeavours are required. We will continue working on strengthening and supporting the Colombian institutions to tackle perverse effects that cause harm to Colombia’s citizens and foster further conflicts. The main funding channels for this policy priority are the FCO’s tri-partite (FCO, DFID, and MOD) Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) and the Bilateral Programme Budget (BPB).

All projects should contribute to UK priorities for project assistance in Colombia. For 2008/2009 these are:

1. Security Sector Reform

The UK has been very active in supporting Security Sector authorities to do more to abide by international standards in human rights and international humanitarian law. The UK’s co-operation efforts will focus specifically in the following areas:

• Implementation of the Colombian Ministry of Defence’s Human Rights and IHL policy
• Strengthening the implementation of Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and Security

2. Internal Displacement

The UK has supported projects in this area for a number of years. Through CPP, the UK has also supported the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office through the Community Defenders programme, and UNHCR regionally to strengthen their activities and co-ordination in border areas with Ecuador and Venezuela. Work will continue in the following areas:

• Strengthening key institutions in charge of the prevention and stabilisation of internally displaced persons, with a special emphasis in promoting differential approaches.
• Implementation of land restitution mechanisms
• Prevention of negative collateral effects arising from the Armed Forces’ field actions.

3. Forced Disappearances

The UK has focused a great amount of effort in closely following developments in this area, particularly those that have a large impact in the support of victims’ families and the strengthening of key governmental institutions. Our co-operation efforts will focus in the following areas:

• Technical assistance and training in the implementation of the National Search Plan by relevant institutions, with a special emphasis on case-management and unified protocols.
  
• Promotion of victims’ participation mechanisms, with emphasis in the creation of a standard and unified legal route for victims.
  
• Applying for project fund in Conflict Prevention