1. Country Data Go back to Global Navigation

1.1 General Information

  • (1) Total Land Area    1'141.748 km2
  • (2) Capital City    Bogota
  • (3) Total population    43 million people
  • (4) Ethnic groups    White, afrocolombian, indigenous, others
  • (5) Language    Spanish
  • (6) Religion    Catholic

1.2 Disability related information

(1) Definition / Classification of disabilities

40% persons with visual limitation (25% low vision and 15% blind), 37% persons with mental limitations, 12% deaf, and 11% persons with physical limitations.

(2) Population of persons with disabilities (Type of disability, age, cause, gender)

2'647.000 according to 2005 census, 6.47% of total population

From total of people who reported a disability, 29,0% has limitations to move or walk, 14,6% to use arms and hands, 43,2% to see despite of lens or glasses, 17,3% to hear even with special devices, 12,8% to speak, 11,9% to understand or learn, 9,9% to socialize due to mental or emotional problems, 9,4% to bath, dress or feed by him/her self and 19,4% have other limitations.

Taking into account the number of limitation per person, 71,2% have one limitation, 14,5% two limitations, 5,7% three limitations and 8,7% three or more permanent limitations. According to this 2005 general census prevalent rate for total population (6.4%) is greater for men (6,6%) than women (6,2%).

(3) Major laws and regulations concerned with persons with disabilities, if any (Name/title, registered year, description)

  • Fundamental rights in our constitution :
  • Article 13 – equal right for everybody and special protection from government to people with disabilities
  • Article 16 – free development of personality
  • Article 25 - the right to work for everybody
  • Article 47 – Government will lead a policy of prevention, rehabilitation and social integration of people with disabilities
  • Article 49 – State is in charge of public health and everybody has the right of access

LOWS

Colombia has many lows that unfortunately are not applied in reality. For example about education (115 de 1994, 715 de 2001, and 119 de 1994), health (100 de 1993 and 10 de 1990), social security (100 de 1993 and 797 de 2003), work and training (361 de 1997, 789 de 2002 and 909 de 2004), sport and recreation (181 de 1995 and 582 de 2000), culture and democratic participation (163 de 1994), in all of them there are legal warranties that rule in general or specifically topics related with population with disabilities or in disability situations.

(4) Financial assistance for persons with disabilities, if any

There is no government subsidy for persons with disabilities except when their condition is acquired in a job or they are supported by a family member who works.

Recently a health system SISBEN was established to assist people in great need, the poorest or refugees from violence. This is the only option for many people with disabilities for basic health coverage

(5) Disability - related organizations and their activities

COMITE CONSULTIVO NACIONAL DE DISCAPACIDAD (NATIONAL CONSULTING COMMITTEE DOR DISABILITY)

Main consulting body of government of Colombia about politics, programmes and coordination of public policy for people with disabilities. Is conformed by important organizations representing different kind of limitations :

  • - Asociación Colombiana de Padres con Hijos Especiales (Acphes). Acphes@colomsat.net.co (Fathers with special sons/daughters)
  • - Colciencias - Programa de Salud, Bsuares@colciencias.gov.co (Research institute)
  • - Confepaz Confepaz@lettera.net (association of people who leave weapons and war)
  • - Centro de Rehabilitación para Adultos Ciegos (Crac). Centrod2@latino.net.co (Rehabilitation Center for Blind adult)
  • - Defensoría del Pueblo, (government agency to Project people's rights)
  • Fenascol (Federación Nacional de Sordos de Colombia), Fenascol@elsitio.net.co (National federation for deaf people)
  • - Fundación Cirec; Fcirec@colomsat.net.co (Important foundation for people with physical limitations, specially focus on children victims of war
  • - Fundación del Niño Diferente, Fndcolombia@hotmail.com (Foundation of the different children)
  • - Sociedad Colombiana de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Acedcol@latino.net.co (Rehab and medicine Colombian society)
  • - Andercop, Andercop@007mundo.com
  • - Instituto Los Alamos, Losalamos@epm.net.co
  • - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, departamento de terapias, Atrujil@bacata.ufc.unal.edu.co (Therapist representative from main public university)
  • And many other specifically devoted to certain limitations.
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