The Colombian Peace Agreement with the FARC: Its Impact on the Lives of Colombian Asylum Seekers in Ecuador

Abstract

After more than 50 years of violent confrontations, the Government of Colombia signed a Peace Agreement with the FARC, Colombia’s oldest guerilla armed group. However, the agreement was poorly implemented, and violence has only been escalating and spreading since. Rival armed non-state actors have taken over FARC illegal activities, controlling more isolated, but strategically located, resource-rich communities and territories, many of which are at the center of illegal economies. More victims are now being forcibly displaced from Colombia, with Ecuador being the main destination. Although Ecuador’s legislations are widely recognized for exceeding, on paper, international refugee law standards, on the ground, Colombians in need of international protection continue to face serious challenges when trying to obtain refugee status. Ecuador as the main asylum country is currently facing decreasing resources and political will to ensure the respect of Colombian asylum seekers’ rights and protection. Using a qualitative methodology, this research employed semi-structured interviews with 10 Colombian asylum seekers and 5 stakeholders to examine how Colombian asylum seekers are facing increased challenges in their refugee determination process and in their access to basic services and employment in Quito since the Peace Agreement. Drawing on the capabilities approach and social exclusion approach as conceptual frameworks, the findings of this study demonstrate that Colombian asylum seekers in Ecuador are experiencing reduced refugee protection possibilities, a more limited access to employment and basic services, and are increasingly discriminated against.