Nearly fifty years of internal armed conflict have left their mark on Colombia’s democratic structures. The conflict involving guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and the state security forces often catches ordinary citizens in the crossfire and has displaced some two million Colombians.
These problems have affected the country's political and electoral system. In some areas, people are unable to vote because of violence or threats from armed groups, or voters are pressured cast their ballots for particular candidates. Cases have also emerged of candidates and politicians accepting money from these sources. Meanwhile, Colombia's political party system is facing pressures similar to those experienced in other Latin American countries, with the emergence of many new political groups and fragmented representation in the legislature.
FROM 2007-2009, International IDEA and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) carried out a joint programme providing support for political reform, electoral reform and the party system in Colombia. Following a brief hiatus around the 2010 elections, IDEA and UNDP launched a new phase of their democratic support in early 2011. The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy also joined the partnership. The IDEA-UNDP-NIMD "Democratic Strengthening" programme focuses on:
1. Enhanced political representation, particularly of under-represented groups.
2. Improved quality of legislation and party proposals.
3. Design and implementation of mechanisms aimed at promoting transparency.
4. Strengthened citizen participation in the democratic process.
