Since its creation in 2011, the Unit for the Attention and Integral Reparation of Victims (UARIV) has led the implementation of Law 1448 of 2011, also known as the Victims and Land Restitution Law. With the Single Registry of Victims (RUV) identifying over 9.7 million people affected by the armed conflict, comprehensive reparation for victims in Colombia has become a cornerstone of its peacebuilding efforts. The RUV is internationally recognized as one of the most complete tools for public policy planning and victim profiling.
Comprehensive reparation for victims in Colombia
The UARIV was one of the three featured case studies during the Learning Route: From Colombia to the World – Lessons Learned and Good Practices for Sustainable and Inclusive Peacebuilding, organized by Procasur, IOM and the Government of Colombia. International delegations learned about UARIV’s approach to individual and collective reparation, return and relocation, and psychosocial care with a differential focus. The Colombian experience stood out for its inter-institutional coordination, territorial reach and victim-centered policy design.
Key components of the UARIV model
The RUV has registered more than 9.7 million conflict victims in Colombia. It is a dynamic and updated registry that plays a crucial role in planning, prioritizing, and implementing public policies for attention and reparation. Recognized globally, it remains a core pillar of the system.
Over 500,000 victims have received financial compensation through individual reparation programs. Meanwhile, 277 Comprehensive Collective Reparation Plans (PIRCs) have been implemented to restore the rights, dignity, and social fabric of affected communities, including Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. These plans include symbolic measures, psychosocial support, and institutional guarantees of non-repetition.
More than 400,000 people have been returned or relocated to safe areas through coordinated efforts with SNARIV and local governments. The township of La Victoria de San Isidro in Cesar is a leading example of sustainable return, community rebuilding, and integration into national development programs such as the PDET.
Through the Psychosocial and Integral Health Care Program for Victims (PAPSIVI), more than 240,000 victims have received emotional and psychological support. Priority is given to women, ethnic communities, children, and people with disabilities. In 2024, the RAÍCES Emotional Recovery Strategy expanded psychosocial support to Colombian victims in Ecuador and Venezuela.
Participation is a fundamental pillar of the UARIV model. Through the Protocol for Effective Victim Participation, spaces at municipal, departmental, and national levels have been established. Victims actively engage in the design and monitoring of policies, a process recognized by the Constitutional Court as fulfilling their fundamental right to participation in transitional justice.
