Children of murdered peace signatories will receive basic income: how to access the benefit?

Violence against the signatories of the peace agreement continues unabated, despite an improvement in the figures seen in 2024. So far this year, 11 ex-combatants have been killed, with the crime against Hernán Amaya Velásquez, a peasant leader and defender of rural reform in Vichada, being the latest in a long list of episodes that reflect the constant risk in which this population lives.

This situation, which has resulted in 441 incidents since 2017, according to data from the United Nations, not only led to the Constitutional Court declaring the state of affairs unconstitutional two years ago, but also caused a harsh warning from the Comunes party in the presentation of the latest quarterly report on the UN Verification Mission before the Security Council of said organization.

The violence carried out by illegal armed groups against the signatories not only undermines confidence in the reintegration process, but also affects the families of the victims, who, in most cases, depend economically on the productive projects carried out by the ex-combatants.

Due to this situation, the Reincorporation and Normalization Agency (ARN) announced resolution 0275 on Wednesday, which adopts a comprehensive support strategy for the relatives of people in the reincorporation process who have been murdered or who were victims of forced displacement.

“This resolution applies to family groups and minor children of deceased persons who were victims of homicide and victims of forced disappearance who were part of the Reincorporation Process,” says the document issued on February 17.

The publication of the resolution is in compliance with the order of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) through order SAR-AI 067 of November 11, 2021, a document that orders the creation of a support strategy for the families of reincorporated persons who have had to leave the ETCR or are victims of other violent actions.

The strategy will have four components. First, it will focus on effective actions to address the emotional impact. Then, it will offer collective training and legal guidance on their cases. It will also include a component to strengthen political capacities and, finally, it will focus on the economic aspect.

This last point includes the provision of a basic income, as well as actions aimed at strengthening the autonomy and sustainability of women and family groups. “It also includes developing efforts to facilitate access to the territorial and national institutional offer related to labor inclusion, financial inclusion and the development of their productive initiatives,” the resolution reads.

The basic income or financial support will apply to minor sons and daughters legally recognized by former FARC members who were part of the reintegration process implemented by the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN).

"In order for family groups to be able to access the benefit, the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) must verify that the person who was the victim of homicide has a record of assistance or disbursements within the framework of the reincorporation process," they add.

The amount of the basic income will be 90% of a minimum wage and, in the event that the signatory has more than one child, it will be distributed proportionally among the beneficiaries.

Those who receive the benefit will have to legally reside within the country, be accredited by the office of the Peace Commissioner Counselor as a victim and that the ex-combatant victim of homicide does not have a final criminal sentence for intentional crimes committed after the date of ratification of the Final Peace Agreement, December 1, 2016, among others.

Those who wish to participate in the strategy will have to submit an application to the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization with the minor's civil registry, the identity document of the father or mother and a certificate of an active bank account.

CAMILO A. CASTILLOPolitical EditorX: (@camiloandres894)