AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Church highlights needs for full integration of refugees into society: restitution of land and property is not enough; psychological rehabilitation of victims is also needed

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – In light of the constant growth of people “who are excluded from access to rights and the possibility of fulfilling their duties,” ways should be found “to keep these people from becoming victims and restoring them to their status of first-class citizens.” This is what Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Barranquilla, President of the Colombian Bishops' Conference (CEC), said in the inauguration of the National Congress “Social Inclusion from a Psychological/Social Perspective,” held September 11-12 in Bogota (see Fides 2/9/2009).
In highlighting the importance of a “strict collaboration” seen between the National Secretariat of Social/Pastoral Ministry (SNPS/Caritas Colombia) and the Ministry for Social Protection, Archbishop Salazar expressed his hope for a “proposal to affront the serious issue of the refugee population.” Accommodating refugees takes on “great importance” and does not consist merely in “restitution of lands and property, but requires psychological and social rehabilitation of the victims, so that they may regain their capability as authentic citizens.” Thus, what is needed is a “complete reintegration of the person in the life of society,” the President of the CEC added.
SNPS/Caritas Colombia Director Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao Gaviria has pointed out the importance of psychological attention to help refugees to rebuild their life plans. It is a first step “on the road to progress in joint and integral construction” that will help overcome situations of eradication and loss of goods endured by refugees.
At the Congress, representative of the Government, Dr. Clara Lopez Obregon also spoke out, reminding participants of the “enormous responsibility of solidarity” towards refugees.
Among the participants in the initiative, which is among the activities for the Week for Peace, various Bishops, Directors of Pastoral and Social initiatives, priests, professionals, pastoral workers, and people working in the area of forced displacement and victims of the armed conflict in Colombia. The main objective of the Congress was that of “creating dialogue, analysis, and reflection in order to promote proposals and policies for psychological and social intervention,” also allowing for “the construction of new social realities that can peacefully accompany the victims of social-political violence in Colombia.” (GT) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2009)