The number of Venezuelans in need of international protection in Colombia grew to 1.8 million by 31 December 2019 according to national statistics, reflecting the continuing arrivals from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during the year. Only 44% of these 1.8 million had a regular status in the country. Nearly 600,000 Venezuelans had been able to obtain a Special Stay Permit (PEP) by end 2019, allowing them to access basic services and the labour market for up to two years. Some 181,000 of these permits, issued more than two years ago, currently need renewing. New entry requirements for Venezuelans introduced by Ecuador, Peru and Chile have generated a bottleneck inside Colombia, with more and more Venezuelans faced with no other options than to stay in Colombia, many without access to regular stay arrangements.
UNHCR also worked with State authorities to step up support to the registration, assistance and reintegration of some 500,000 Colombians who have returned from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela since 2017, although the actual number remains unclear, with limited data on registered cases. To assist them, UNHCR worked with the National Registrar’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) through its programme Colombia Nos Une, the Victims’ Unit.
While international attention shifted towards the massive arrival of Venezuelans in the country, the implementation of Colombia’s historic Peace Accord continued. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to peace, but there were concerns over the level of financial resources and political support being provided to the implementation of the agreement).
Protection challenges continued in FARC demobilization areas, along the Pacific Coast, Catatumbo (Norte de Santander), the borders and regions such as Bajo Cauca, Sur de Cordoba and Norte de Antioquia. OHCHR reported 108 homicides targeting human rights defenders in 2019. In addition, 2019 saw continued forced recruitment and use of children, stigmatization of communities and social organizations, sexual violence and use of landmines and unexploded ordnance. New and recurrent displacements, as well as restrictions of mobility and confinements remained in affected areas, particularly affecting indigenous people and Afro-Colombians. The Office advocated for the maintenance of the strong legal framework for IDPs (Victims and Land Restitution Law), given some indications of structural changes, including the registration of victims, that could further affect the enjoyment of their rights and adequate visibility to the humanitarian situation in the country.
UNHCR, with IOM, co-led the inter-agency coordination mechanism for the response to the arrivals from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the inter-agency mixed migration group (known by its Spanish acronym, GIFMM) with over 61 members. It also co-led the Protection Cluster, with some 50 members, with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The 2019 Refugee and Migrants Response Plan for the situation of Venezuelans was the main framework for UNHCR’s engagement in Colombia, together with the 2018-2020 Multi Year Multi Partner Strategy. In an effort to provide coherence across different planning frameworks, the operation updated its mixed protection strategy, focusing on four strategic pillars: (1) strengthening the capacity and response of State and community protection networks; (2) age, gender and diversities and community-based sensitive protection approaches;, (3) response to basic needs; and (4) solutions, livelihoods and peace.