CRS History in Colombia

Catholic Relief Services has worked in Colombia for more than 50 years. In response to increased violence and widespread suffering, the agency formed the In Solidarity with Colombia program, a joint program between CRS Colombia and the Catholic National Secretariat for Social Ministry-Caritas Colombiana.

Today, the joint program works to strengthen civil society and create a culture of peace in the face of the country's prolonged and complex crisis. Together, CRS and Caritas promote peace in Colombia by way of education programs, reconciliation processes and conflict transformation. We support organizations that provide emergency and humanitarian assistance to thousands of Colombians whose lives have been impacted by violence. And we help to rebuild families and communities by promoting peace, community organization and economic opportunities.

CRS, Caritas and our many humanitarian partner organizations believe peace in Colombia is possible. For a just and lasting peace to be achieved, the Colombian Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for international support for a negotiated path towards peace, policies which more effectively respond to the underlying social and economic conditions driving the current conflict, and humanitarian aid for the millions of Colombians who are victims of the conflict. To that end, CRS works with other Catholic, ecumenical and civil society organizations to increase U.S. understanding of the complexities of the situation in Colombia and to encourage advocacy that responds to our Colombian Church partners' concerns.

From its office in Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, the In Solidarity with Colombia program runs 11 projects. In areas including peacebuilding and reconciliation, emergency preparedness and response, and advocacy and solidarity, the program ultimately serves more than 100,000 Colombians.