THE CONTRIBUTION OF HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY BY INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF CONFINEMENT IN SAMANIEGO, COLOMBIA

Abstract: This study highlights the role of humanitarian diplomacy to obtain humanitarian access to civilian victims of forced confinement in the municipality of Samaniego, Colombia. Humanitarian diplomacy is made of humanitarian negotiations, coordination and advocacy to provide suffering-alleviation to victims of armed conflicts, and these components will be discussed thoroughly. To inquire in the use of humanitarian diplomacy by international relief organizations, interviews with thirteen humanitarian workers, two public officers and a human rights worker were conducted. The findings, which are complemented with humanitarian and human rights reports and framed in the theoretical discussion, will be the base to discuss whether humanitarian diplomacy contributed to gain humanitarian access in villages of Samaniego facing restrictions in the mobility of civilians and limitations in the supply of basic means of livelihood and humanitarian assistance.