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You are here: News News First compensation payments for victims of illegal armed groups

First compensation payments for victims of illegal armed groups

Colombia news - victims

2000 victims of illegal armed groups in Colombia will Sunday be the first to receive compensation as part of the Government Reparation Program.

President Alvaro Uribe will hand over compensation to 300 victims of guerrilla and paramilitary violence in Popayan, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) reported Friday. 1700 people in other parts of the country will also receive their money that day.

Victims whose family member were killed or forcefully disappeared and victims that suffered kidnapping, physical injury or psychological trauma resulting in permanent disability will receive US$10,400.

Victims of torture, physical injury or psychological trauma not resulting in permanent disability, illegal recruitment of minor or sexual crimes, will be eligible to receive US$7,850.

Victims of forced displacement will receive US$7,050.

The Victim's Law, as the Government Reparation Program is called, was passed in Senate recently but caused controversy since it allegedly discriminates between victims of illegal armed groups and victims of state violence.