Colombia: Whether women who head their own households, without male or family support, can obtain housing and employment in Bogota; violence against women in Bogota; government support services available to female-headed households in Bogota
1. Background
The 2010 National Survey on Demography and Health (Encuesta Nacional de Demografia y Salud del 2010, ENDS 2010) indicates that 34 percent of Colombian homes are headed by women (Profamilia Mar. 2011, 37). In Bogota, 36 percent of households with children under 15 years of age are headed by women (ibid., 40). The survey, which was carried out in 2010 by Profamilia, a non-profit organization that specializes in sexual and reproductive health (ibid. n.d.a), consisted of a sample of about 50,000 households in 258 municipalities in Colombia (ibid. Mar. 2011, 4) and illustrates the increasing [translation] "feminization" of households compared to 1995 (24 percent), 2000 (28 percent), and 2005 (30 percent) (ibid., 36). Another Profamilia study entitled Survey in Marginalized Zones on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Forced Displacement and Poverty 2000-2011 (Encuesta en Zonas Marginadas en Salud Sexual y Salud Reproductiva, Desplazamiento Forzado y Pobreza 2000-2011), which was undertaken between 2006 and 2010 in low-income areas of 169 municipalities across Colombia (Sept. 2011, 18), indicates that 32.8 percent of households in Bogota were headed by women compared to 35.7 percent at the national level (ibid. 24).
However, in a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the Coordinator of the Corporation for the Support of Popular Communities (Corporación de Apoyo a Comunidades Populares, CODACOP), an NGO based in Bogota that supports development programs for women heads of household, indigenous communities and peasant organizations, among other social groups (n.d.), indicated that the majority of these women who arrive in Bogota are displaced because of violence (CODACOP 27 Jan. 2012). With regard to number of households, statistics from the Presidential Agency for Social Action and International Cooperation (Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internacional, Acción Social), the government agency responsible for assisting victims of violence and displacement (Colombia n.d.a), indicate that, by November 2011, Bogota had 2,778 households headed by displaced women (ibid. n.d.b), 53 households more than in 2010 (ibid. n.d.c).
2. Housing
The Coordinator of CODACOP indicated that displaced women heads of households live under [translation] "very hard" physical conditions (27 Jan. 2012). According to the Coordinator, they tend to be concentrated in low income sectors in the districts of Bosa, Ciudad Bolívar, San Cristóbal, Usme, Usaquén, La Candelaria and Altos de Casacá in Soacha (CODACOP 27 Jan. 2012). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Employment
According to the 1st Local Survey on Demographics and Health Bogota 2011 (1a Encuesta Distrital de Demografía y Salud Bogotá 2011), which was conducted by Profamilia between June 2010 and May 2011 (31 Aug. 2011, 6), women were subjected to pre-hiring tests such as pregnancy (51 percent) and HIV (12 percent) (Profamilia 31 Aug. 2011, 71). The survey also shows that two percent of women were required to provide proof of sterilization and four percent were fired for being pregnant (ibid.).
According to Profamilia, the percentage of women living in low-income areas with employment in [translation] "professional, technical or administrative" areas reaches [translation] "only" one percent, whereas for women aged between 15 and 49 in the rest of the country the percentage climbs to 23 percent (Sept. 2011, 38). The survey also indicates that 95 percent of employed women living in low-income areas work in sales, mainly in the informal sector, or as housemaids (Profamilia Sept. 2011, 38). The above was corroborated by the Coordinator of CODACOP, who indicated that the majority of single mothers do not obtain stable employment, and when they have it, it is common to find them without social security benefits such as paid sick days or pensions (27 Jan. 2012). Often, the Coordinator notes, single mothers must leave their children alone to go to work, risking that the State might take them away (CODACOP 27 Jan. 2012). The Coordinator further indicated that displaced single mothers face a "much harder" situation when trying to obtain employment since they are "constantly discriminated against" (ibid.).
4. Violence Against Women
4.1 Domestic Violence
The Coordinator of CODACOP indicated that women heads of household experience violence [translation] "in all of its expressions," particularly in low income neighbourhoods (27 Jan. 2012). According to Profamilia, 37 percent of women in Bogota suffered physical violence from their spouse or partner, with [translation] "shakings" and hitting the most frequent types of violence (31 Aug. 2011, 253). The survey indicates that 84 percent of women victims of spousal violence suffered physical and emotional injuries (Profamilia 31 Aug. 2011, 255). The National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, INMLCF) reported 16,332 cases of domestic violence in Bogota from January to November 2011; 10,517 of these cases involved spousal violence (Colombia Dec. 2011). However, sources report that family commissioners (Comisarías de Familia) received 69,154 cases of domestic violence in Bogota from January to November 2011 (El Nuevo Siglo 20 Nov. 2011; El Tiempo 28 Nov. 2011). El Tiempo, a Bogota-based newspaper, indicates that 75 percent of the victims were women (ibid.).
Amnesty International (AI) observes that victims fear reporting crimes given the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators, ineffective protection measures and poor training of judicial officers, making it "very difficult to evaluate the true scale of the problem" (AI 21 Sept. 2011). This is corroborated in the Profamilia 1st Local Survey on Demographics and Health Bogota 2011, which indicates that 69 percent of women victims of domestic violence did not seek protection (31 Aug. 2011, 265), and 77.5 percent did not seek medical assistance (Profamilia 31 Aug. 2011, 263).
4.2 Other violence
The Profamilia survey indicates that six percent of interviewed women were victims of sexual violence, particularly in the districts of Usme, La Candelaria and Sumapaz (ibid., 258). El Tiempo reports that 59 [translation] "crimes of passion" (crímenes pasionales) were committed in Bogota between January and October 2011 (4 Oct. 2011).
5. Government Services
5.1 Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
The US Department of State indicates that the Colombian government provides services for victims of domestic violence through the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF [Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar]) (US 8 Apr. 2011, 41). Information on shelters administered by ICBF could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The City of Bogota offers refuge houses (Casas Refugio) for abused women where they can get food and find psychological, health, educational, legal, and therapeutic support for themselves and their children (Bogota n.d.a). In addition, the City of Bogota has 12 houses for the equality of opportunity (Casas de Igualdad de Oportunidades) that also provide legal and psychological assistance (ibid. n.d.b). The Coordinator of CODACOP indicated that there are three casas refugio and that abused women can stay there up to three months (27 Jan. 2012). However, the US Department of State says that the shelters' services "could not meet the magnitude of the problem" (US 8 Apr. 2011, 41). The Coordinator of CODACOP corroborated the above, adding that these programs do not have enough resources (27 Jan. 2012).
Victims of domestic violence can file complaints with any of the family commissioners, municipal judges, the Attorney General's office, police stations and the ICBF (Colombia 11 Aug. 2011). Profamilia also offers health, psychological and judicial services to victims of sexual violence through the Comprehensive Assistance for Sexual Violence Program (Programa de Atención Integral a la Violencia Sexual, AVISE) at any of its locations (Profamilia n.d.b). However, according to Profamilia, the rights of women victims of violence that are in place are not widely known, and [translation] "many" of them are "re-victimized" when trying to seek protection, since public employees responsible for taking their complaints and providing them with assistance are not adequately trained (31 Aug. 2011, 246).
5.2 Displaced Women
Women victims of displacement and violence can go to any of the 14 centres for assistance in cases of violence and serious human rights violations (Centros de Atención a Victimas de las Violencias y Graves Violaciones a Derechos Humanos, CAVIDH) (Bogota 3 June 2011). These centres offer psychological and legal assistance and support groups (ibid.).
However, the Coordinator of CODACOP provided the following information with regard to state protection for displaced women. Protection is not actually given; the programs available to them are not sufficient given the high numbers of displaced women heads of households. Applications for assistance take a long time to be processed because of the existing bureaucracy. Most of the women arrive in Bogota with [translation] "serious" health, nutrition and psychological problems. They also face difficulties when trying to enrol their children in schools given the stigmatization they experience as displaced persons (CODACOP 27 Jan. 2012). According to Profamilia, 20.2 percent of women in Bogota do not have health insurance (Sept. 2011, 167) and 30.9 percent of those who have health insurance, do not know their rights and benefits (Profamilia Sept. 2011, 168).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 21 September 2011. "Colombian Authorities Fail Survivors of Sexual Violence." <http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/colombian-authorities-fail-survivors-sexual-violence-2011-09-21> [Accessed 13 Oct. 2011]
Bogota. 3 June 2011. Secretaría de Gobierno. "Centro de Atención a Víctimas de las Violencias y Graves Violaciones a Derechos Humanos CAVIDH." <http://www.gobiernobogota.gov.co/seguridad-y-convivencia/cavidh> [Accessed 25 Jan. 2011]
_____. N.d.a. Secretaría de Planeación, Subsecretaría de Mujer, Géneros y Diversidad Sexual. "Las Casas Refugio para mujeres víctimas." <http://www.bogota.gov.co/portel/libreria/php/01.070816.html> [Accessed 1 Feb. 2012]
_____. N.d.b. Secretaría de Planeación, Subsecretaría de Mujer, Géneros y Diversidad Sexual. "Casas de Igualdad de Oportunidades." <http://www.bogota.gov.co/portel/libreria/php/01.070808.html> [Accessed 1 Feb. 2012]
Colombia. December 2011. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, INMLCF. Boletin estadístico mensual - Noviembre de 2011p. <http://www.medicinalegal.gov.co/ images/stories/root/CRNV/boletinesmensuales/2011/BOLETINNoviembre2011.pdf> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2012]
_____. 11 August 2011. Alta Consejería Presidencial para la Equidad de la Mujer. "Preguntas frecuantes violencia contra la mujer." <http://www.equidadmujer.gov.co/Paginas/Preguntas-frecuentes.aspx> [Accessed 30 Jan. 2012]
_____. N.d.a. Departamento para la Prosperidad Social. "La entidad." <<http://www.accionsocial.gov.co/contenido/contenido.aspx?catID=3&conID=544&pagID=820> [Accessed 30 Jan. 2012]
_____. N.d.b. Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internacional, Acción Social. "Reporte general por género - 2011." Sistema de Información para Población Desplazada (SIPOD). <http://www.accionsocial.gov.co/EstadisticasDesplazados/Reserved.ReportViewerWeb Control.axd?ReportSession=c2umtx45pymaiofjkmmoy134&ControlID=437f531d3a f34b8d8268cf3d1d1ee7df&Culture=1033&UICulture=1033&ReportStack=1&OpType =Export&FileName=rptGeneralGro&ContentDisposition=OnlyHtmlInline&Format=MHTML> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2012]
_____. N.d.c. Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internacional, Acción Social. "Reporte general por género - 2010." Sistema de Información para Población Desplazada (SIPOD). <http://www.accionsocial.gov.co/EstadisticasDesplazados/Reserved.ReportViewerWeb Control.axd?ReportSession=c2umtx45pymaiofjkmmoy134&ControlID=437f531d3a f34b8d8268cf3d1d1ee7df&Culture=1033&UICulture=1033&ReportStack=1&OpType= Export&FileName=rptGeneralGro&ContentDisposition=OnlyHtmlInline&Format=MHTML> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2012]
Corporación de Apoyo a Comunidades Populares (CODACOP). 27 January 2012. Telephone interview with the Coordinator.
_____. N.d. "Sobre nosotros." <http://www.codacop.org.co/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=53> [Accessed 27 Jan. 2012]
El Nuevo Siglo [Bogota]. 20 November 2011. "69 mil denuncias por violencia intrafamiliar." <http://www.elnuevosiglo.com.co/articulos/11-2011-69-mil-denuncias-por-violencia-intrafamiliar.html> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2012]
Profamilia. September 2011. Encuesta en Zonas Marginadas en Salud Sexual y Salud Reproductiva. Desplazamiento Forzado y Pobreza 2000-2011. <http://www.profamilia.org.co/encuestaenzonasmarginadas/pdf/ezm2011_completo.pdf> [Accessed 4 Oct. 2011]
_____. 31 August 2011. 1a Encuesta Distrital de Demografía y Salud Bogotá 2011. <http://www.demografiaysaludbogota.co/> [Accessed 5 Oct. 2011]
_____. March 2011. Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud, ENDS 2010. <http://www.profamilia.org.co/encuestas/Profamilia/Profamilia/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=9> [Accessed 24 Oct. 2011]
_____. N.d.a. "¿Qué es Profamilia?" <http://www.profamilia.org.co/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=124&Itemid=28> [Accessed 24 Oct. 2011]
_____. N.d.b. "¿Qué es AVISE?" [Accessed 25 Jan. 2012]
El Tiempo [Bogota]. 28 November 2011. "La violencia de puertas para adentro." <http://www.eltiempo.com/violencia-contra-las-mujeres/abuso-intrafamiliar/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-10847425.html> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2012]
_____. 4 October 2011. "Van 59 crímenes pasionales este año en Bogotá." <http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/bogota/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-10500467.html> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2011]
United States (US). 8 April 2011. Department of State. "Colombia." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010. <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154499.htm> [Accessed 8 Aug. 2011]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact representatives of the following organizations were unsuccessful: Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internacional, Alcaldia Mayor de Bogotá, Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular, Defensoría del Pueblo, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, Instituto Popular de Capacitación, Pastoral Social, Profamilia, Sisma Mujer, Universidad Católica de Colombia, Universidad Nacional.
Internet sites, including: Alta Consejería Presidencial para la Equidad de la Mujer, El Colombiano, Comisión Colombiana de Juristas, Delegación de la Unión Europea en Colombia, Cruz Roja de Colombia, Factiva, Freedom House, El Mundo, Human Rights Watch, Ministerio de la Protección Social, Opción Legal, Organización Internacional para las Migraciones, Pastoral Social, El Tiempo, UNIFEM.