Our Work:

paper 43

To End a War: Demobilization and Reintegration of Paramilitaries in Colombia

by Markus Koth

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List of Contents

Acknowledgements

List of acronyms and abbreviations

Executive Summary

Introduction

History of the Colombian Conflict

• The ELN
• The FARC
• M19
• Paramilitaries
• Armed forces
• The need for a negotiated solution with the FARC
• President Uribe’s policy: “La Seguridad Democrática”

The Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Problem

• Why do paramilitaries lay down their arms?
• Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DD&R)
• “Collective demobilization” of paramilitaries
• Legal framework for collective demobilization
• Registration and disarmament
• The demobilization process
• Security problems
• Results of the demobilization of the paramilitaries
• Reintegration of collectively demobilized paramilitaries
• Problems and risks of the DD&R of paramilitaries
• Individual demobilization
• Deficits of individual demobilization
• Reintegration
• Reintegration of individually demobilized combatants
• Reintegration of children
• Female fighters
• Disabled ex-combatants
• The indigenous population
• Internally displaced persons

International Cooperation

• Organization of American States (OAS)
• The United Nations
• The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• and the International Labour Organization (ILO)
• The European Union
• United States

Recommendations

References