2013YEAR-END OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

YEAR-END OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
Colombia Country Guarantor of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law IHL
"People have a right to live better and in peace in 2013"Colombia continues to consolidate as a progressing country and guarantor of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law IHL. This results in the entire country that people in 2013 are entitled to live better and in peace, and the state at all levels have a duty to guarantee this right.Likewise, the State has the duty to guarantee people the right to associate and the same state has a duty to respect that right, to promote social dialogue and consultation with them.

In 2013 we must strengthen the culture of social dialogue because no one would understand a state that seeks dialogue and agreements with illegal organizations and also denies that dialogue and building legal agreements with organizations such as labor unions and workers, with the students, the community, peasant, indigenous, black, and others.

In 2013 we can not forget that Colombia remains one of the states of Latin America and the Caribbean with the highest levels of social inequality and poverty, and we can leave these dishonorable places itself from the state at all levels contributes to simply people, starting with children, can live better, with better wages, decent jobs and guaranteed rights such as health and education.

In 2013 and in the rest of the years to come, we can not forget that social debt that the State has national, regional or local population is large, which govern efforts should target that violence continues affecting more Colombian population and Peace is a right of all who dwell in Colombia and that wealth is a privilege of all Pobl ation and not the benefit of a few.

In 2013 we must support the courageous efforts of President Juan Manuel Santos to seek peace for Colombia and in that sense, we must continue demanding that the illegal armed groups, whether they, criminal gangs, paramilitaries, drug traffickers and guerrillas of the FARC or ELN; please respect the right of civilians to live in peace and tranquility and not to be assaulted violently.

That illegal armed organizations engage with civilians to stop abductions and to release immediately and unconditionally to the hostages, to stop laying landmines, forced recruitment of children and adolescents, to blowing up towers and terrorist attacks. These minimum actual commitments is what we expect from them in 2013.

Democracy and Peace, is closely related to the full respect of human rights, which in today's world have become globalized as business and no public servant important as it is in the civilian sector, military or police can violate or justify their violation. His work as the ordinary courts is to enforce and uphold.

In 2013 we will hold an international seminar with the European Parliament on Trade and Human Rights and as successfully sued the National Conference on Human Rights, will continue asking the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, that takes place in Colombia the International Seminar on Best Practices in the Field of Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, as it is believed the International School in Colombia based on the culture of Human Rights, which would have the support of both the Foreign Ministry and the Vice Presidency.

The 2013 will be a year where the Colombian state government led by its National reaffirm the international community and Colombian civil society, fully committed to the defense of democratic activity of defenders of human rights and that the purpose of Colombia is to work for a modern, progressive and peaceful, that is respectful and guarantor of human rights and international humanitarian law IHL.

"Happy New Year and that 2013 is the Year of Human Rights Protection."

Angelino Garzón

Vice President of Colombia