| The Colombian Medical Federation (CMF), a WMA member, is
planning to create the "Colombian Medical Mission Observatory".
The proposed observatory was conceived to strengthen guarantees
and offer assistance and humanitarian protection to both medical
missions in areas of armed conflict throughout the country
and vulnerable population. Therefore it will function as a
neutral humanitarian body with respect to all actors involved
in the armed conflict.
It should operate in narrow collaboration and coordination
with relevant national and international organisms involved
in humanitarian efforts. Since the second half of last century,
Colombia has been exposed to one of the most complex and
serious political, social and economic conflicts in the
world. The armed expression of this conflict has caused
more than a million deaths already. The conflict continues
to degrade day by day. Another aspect of this armed conflict
that causes concern are the great risks that it poses to
medical missions and will continue to do so for a long period
of time. In order to deal with this situation Colombia has
developed a series of policies and instruments in accordance
to international humanitarian principles and norms. In spite
of these measures, medical missions across the country remain
subject to constant violations of all kinds from different
armed actors. These violations lead to the non compliance
to ethical and humanitarian principles and norms making
it extremely difficult for the health personnel to maintain
neutrality under pressure from armed groups.
The CMF plans to create the Medical Observatory as a node
within a world wide net with these specific goals in mind:
- Create a nation wide surveillance and intelligence
system to monitor and collect data on human rights violations
and attacks to medical missions. Conduct special studies
to evaluate and analyze the causes of human rights violations
and attacks to medical missions.
- Carry out case studies, national and international
(e.g. Nicaragua, El Salvador, Turkey, Afghanistan) on
conflict management and resolution experiences by health
personnel operating under armed conflict.
- Develop a curriculum for teaching and training in topics
critical for the success of medical missions.
- Develop and offer an Itinerant Seminar-Workshop on
Conflict Management and Resolution.
- Provide information to the general public on medical
missions and human rights.
- Provide support and technical assistance to other countries
that are undergoing similar conflicts, as well as interested
international organizations that can benefit from the
lessons learned in Colombia.
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