In Colombia, armed conflict, gender-based violence, informal employment, and limited access to social services place families under sustained pressure. While different communities face different challenges, poverty and widespread violence intensify the risk of separation for children and caregivers across the country.
Child protection professionals and psychosocial teams operate under significant pressure, often without coordinated support from other sectors such as health and education. Families may be assessed as unable to provide adequate care, even when challenges are driven by circumstances beyond their control.
Children who enter institutional care can spend years away from their families and communities, particularly those with disabilities and specialised educational needs. Children from Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities often live in institutions far removed from their cultural roots, which hinders and reduces the likelihood of family reunification.
Colombia has made significant progress in recognising the importance of transforming its child protection and care system. The country is moving toward a more child- and family-centred approach to prevention, protection, and care. This shift is reflected in Resolution 4775, which establishes the objectives and governance for implementing the Guiding Principles for the Transformation of Care and Deinstitutionalisation, demonstrating a clear commitment to improving the care system, the well-being of children, and guaranteeing their rights throughout the country.
Further efforts are still needed to address the challenges of preventing family separation and promoting family-based care. Commitment from all sectors (Education, Health, Justice, among others) is required to overcome the gaps in the provision of social services across different regions, as well as to expand family-based alternatives, in order to advance the transformation of care, deinstitutionalisation, and better outcomes for children.
