Image 1: Map of the Afro-Colombian population distribution
Image 2: Afro-Colombian children
I've reflected upon my last question (who is the bad guy?) The book "Bogota and Beyond" by Garry Leech allowed me to see the situation in Colombia from a different lens. The question of "Who is the bad guy?" seems to be irrelevant. We are all losers when someone's life is taken or when someone is being torture. I feel that special attention should be given to the populations that are mostly impacted by the current political and social unrest and reflecting on how we can remedy or help these people is essential.
Leech sheds light on those that are most negatively impacted by the war. While those in the Colombian major cities live in fear that they or a loved one may be kidnapped or killed, it is those in the countryside that suffer the most. The Afro-Colombians & the indigenous communities are often displaced and disposed. I did my second-presentation on the Afro-Colombian and my findings revealed much about the inability of the government to better the live of those most impacted by the war it is waging on the guerillas. Here are a few statistics:
• 60% of Afro-Colombian settlements, in rural areas and town ghettos, exhibit extreme poverty rates
• 80% of Afro-Colombians do not have basic needs met
• Infant mortality rates in Chocó and Cauca are 54 per thousand
• Life expectancy in Afro-Colombian region is only 55
• Illiteracy rates for Afro-Colombians are estimated to be twice the national average
Afro-Colombian communities officially make up approximately 10.62 (4.311.757) of the population according to the 2005 census (The Ombudsman’s office considers that the figure is close to 25 percent of 10.5 million people)
In addition, Afro-Colombians are extremely poorly represented in political structures and institutions. Afro-Colombians, particularly those living in the country, are often displaced. The displacement situation in Colombia is alarming. 3,073,010 persons or 695,354 households as of May 2009 have been displaced (World’s second largest internal displacement situation).
After reading Leech’s book, I felt that those that are most impacted by the war have no voice. We hear very little in the news about indigenous and afro-Colombian communities being displaced. I also learned that there is much support for the FARC. The FARC control areas seem to have more peace and its citizens seem to want to live under a FARC controlled government.
Helpful Websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzOlTAze3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOv1c0mPWks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSq5FuhS1SE
This is very interesting topic. There was something that became clear to me, and that is that when having so many forces who fight each other for power and represent a certain group of people, there is bound to be that other group without a voice that falls through the cracks. Why is it that the afro-columbian population have been so affected?... well from my own personal opinion I feel that latin american countries in general are ususally behind the times therefor there isn't an advancement when it comes to human rights. The politics tend to be atiquated and a caste system is usually in place. The rich gets richer while the poor is still prety much so if not worse.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. I had absolutely no idea about any of this. I agree with what the Anonymous person above said. When you have opposing groups of people in a constant fight, there are also people who don't belong to either, but are affected by this, and sometimes even more. Unfortunately, there is barely any support for this Afro-Colombian population.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with the comments, it should be said that many Colombians are displaced every year due to the war, not just Afro-Colombians. As much as it personally pains me to admit this, most Colombians have no voice in the political decisions that affect their lives. Unfortunately, the country is currently governed by the destruction caused by war, more so than the politics, and the consequences are suffered by many, not just Afro-Colombians
ReplyDeleteThank you Clara for bringing that up. Colombians of all walks of life are affected by the drug war. Afro-Colombians are not the only population impacted by this. I decided to speak of the Afro-Colombian population because they are among the most vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteAre human rights a luxury?