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www.cerac.org.co. CERAC’s Team. Research Associates Researchers Support Staff. CERAC Research lines. Our current research topics are: Economic Analysis of Conflict and Violence Human Security Urban Security Conflict Measurement Demographic Impact of Violence and Conflict in Colombia.
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CERAC’s Team • Research Associates • Researchers • Support Staff
CERAC Research lines • Our current research topics are: • Economic Analysis of Conflict and Violence • Human Security • Urban Security • Conflict Measurement • Demographic Impact of Violence and Conflict in Colombia
Conflict in Colombia • Left-wing guerrillas – FARC (big) and ELN (small), illegal right-wing paramilitaries and government forces. • Has been going on for a long time, possibly four decades depending on how you count. • Low intensity – roughly 2,000 deaths per year over the last 16 years. • Is linked with mass criminality, including drug dealing (coca and heroin), kidnapping, extortion, land and cattle theft, etc.
Methodology • Periodicals from a local NGO, Justicia y Paz, lists events compiled from primary sources and from local and national press reports. • We begin with these reports to create an event-based dataset. • We include only clear conflict events, requiring each event to have a military effect and to reflect a group action.
Methodology • The team investigates all big events plus a large random sample of smaller events. • CERAC also has event lists from numerous other sources which we are gradually integrating. • Presently we are integrating very comprehensive media coverage, even radio, going back to 2001. We hope that this will eventually allow us to update the data on a daily basis.
CERAC Dataset • Covers the years 1988 – first half of 2005. • Contains more than 21,000 events with a set of characteristics for each one.
CERAC Dataset • Date. • Participants - left-wing guerrillas, government forces and right-wing paramilitaries. • Type of event – clash vs. attack with attacks divided into more than 40 categories.
CERAC Dataset • Important attack types include massacres, bombings, attacks on economic infrastructure, incursions and aerial bombardments. • Location – departments (states or counties), municipalities and points for many events. • Casualties – killings and injuries of guerrillas, government forces, paramilitaries and civilians.
SARAC • SARAC is an information system for analysis and registration of conflict actions. • Developed at CERAC. • Is in the implementation phase for Colombia and Perú.