Defending the Housing Rights of Displaced Persons in Colombia

Colombia’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) – estimated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to number between two and three million – are currently in a dire predicament. There has been no improvement of their situation in recent years; all too often they live in poverty, with uncertain prospects of being able to return to their original homes and lands in security and peace. Colombia’s IDPs suffer not only from the initial violation of being forcibly evicted from their homes and lands, but also from grave violations of their rights to security of the person, to non-discrimination, to adequate housing, to the highest attainable standard of health, to water, to culture, to education, to work, to an adequate standard of living, to reparation, and the right to return, among others.

This report specifically analyses the housing situation of Colombia’s IDPs in terms of their rights to adequate housing, to be protected from forced eviction, and to restitution of housing and property. The Government of Colombia must urgently take a series of concrete steps to rectify the current situation. In this regard, the report makes concrete policy recommendations to the Government and other authorities.