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This research paper presents a method for the analysis of codes of ethics driven by the strategic interests of the organization. For the review of codes of ethics it is important understand your value structure. The first step consists in a statistical analysis of terms that denote values. The second step consists in a semantical network analysis of the code. This method is presented on the example of the code of ethics of the Fiscalía General de la Nación, Colombia (2008). The proposed method is able to detect, in a detailed manner, emphasis as well as biases in the values' structure of codes of ethics. Thus, it is possible to propose revisions of codes of ethics that are guided by the organization's strategic values. The proposed method fills a void in the literature in relation to general methods for the analysis of codes of ethics with strategic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are analysises of human rights' guarantees in Colombia, there are few studies focused on the historical reconstruction of policies in this area. This paper is based on the recognition that public action is dynamic because it is the product of communication between institutions and condenses dissent in the understanding of human rights' concepts. Thus, intervention priorities and their scope are the result of institutional choices that may vary or last over time. In this context, based on the analysis of the dialogue between entities involved in human rights policies, the article documents the way in which the concept of human rights has been consolidated and supports action on the matter, specifically, in Barco's government, which announces solutions and, above all, current problems in the public agenda and in current social revindications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes "Concejo a la casa", the initiative developed by DemoLab, the Open Council Laboratory of Bogota, as the first case of political innovation in Colombia that uses lottery as a selection mechanism for a process of citizen participation. It builds upon both the conceptual framework based on political innovation and lottery, and the descriptive analysis of the data collected by "Concejo a la casa" to explore the relationship between the descriptive representation of randomness and the conditions that enhance the reduction of some barriers and bias related to participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an instrument of the Colombian market-led land reform, the Comprehensive Land Subsidy (SIT) provides for land entitlement to poor peasants and smallholders tied to the development of rural production projects, through a communal property regime in certain cases. Through the case study of Sandrana y Samaría, this paper seeks to analyze the extent to which this land reform instrument and its implementation conditions create the necessary framework for productive and community development based on the acquisition of a land title. To that end, the study focuses on the logic of the main aspects of this policy instrument in the context of the Colombian land reform policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political reform of 2003, has been the most important in electoral matters made after the 1991 Constitution. The phenomena of "microempresas electorales", "operación avispa" and personalization, brought about a need to reform and reorganize the system and political parties with two fundamental changes: the electoral formula and the electoral barrier. Since the adoption of the reform there have been four elections in Colombia, two regional (Assembly and Council in 2003 and 2007) and two national (Senate and House of Representatives in 2006 and 2010), which have had mechanical effects on the party system at both the national and sub-national levels, and have "reorganized" the political forces in each legislature. The overall objective of this paper is to observe the effects of the reforms on the national party system in both the first (2006) and second (2010) wave of elections, specifically about the representativeness of the system, taking into account their context and political situation. We conclude that the change in the electoral formula and the imposition of the electoral barrier managed to reorganize the parties and therefore political competition without affecting system proportionality, as its detractors had claimed. Although this aspect had no significant variation, factors such as electoral density lead to other questions over the Colombian electoral system such as the necessity (or not) to think about a new reform that points to a change in the electoral districts and therefore in the levels of representation of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a natural resource fundamental for quality of human life. Nevertheless, there are more than one billion people in the world without access to safe drinking water. The water crisis is mainly a crisis of governance, and corruption is one of the principal underlying factors. Due to the characteristics of water supply, the sector must be regulated. However, there are informational asymmetries in regulation, which are a cause of regulatory failures and make the sector more prone to corruption. In Colombia, water supply regulation has a legal structure that aims at stimulating participation, transparency, accountability and integrity. But, there is a significant gap between legal provisions and practice. This paper reviews the Colombian regulatory framework with the aim to identify such gaps and propose ways to strengthen the framework in order to safeguard the delivery of an efficient service to the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some nations criticize Colombian efforts to fight against the violence. However, Colombia doesn't have real support from some of its neighbors (Nicaragua, Ecuador and Venezuela) as well as other actors to combat guerrillas or paramilitary groups which, in turn, are related to the drug traffic. It is necessary that the international community understand the Colombian effort to carry out its struggle against ilegal drugs as well as the violence that results there from. Colombia has increased its spending in Security and Defense during the last decade especially against narcotrafficking. Does Colombia have real support from its neighbors and allies to combat this crime? This paper evaluates the cooperation that Colombia has obtained from other actors in this struggle not only in economic terms, but also in terms of institutional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a current picture of the inhabitants of Bogota, in the light of three main areas: Democratic Culture, Citizen Culture and Policy Culture, which converge on a concept we refer to as the Public Cultures. The analysis of the Public Cultures stems from the Fifth Biennial Survey of Cultures, an instrument developed by the Bogotá city government through the Observatory of Cultures, a bureau of the Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sports. The response of over 13000 inhabitants in the 19 burroughs of the city are depicted in the 2009 survey. The article presents findings on the degree of tolerance, respect for differences, civic and democratic values, perceived conflicts and political participation of the people of Bogotá. Readers may take this information and subsequent analysis to deepen their knowledge and commitment to building a sense of belonging in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of landmines is commonplace in countries with armed conflicts. In the Colombian case, the use of these weapons by terrorist groups such as FARC, has noticeably increased in recent years, particularly since the implementation of the Democratic Security Policy. Clearly, terrorist groups in Colombia have found that landmines are a useful and effective method to contain the military offensive and to protect, among others, areas where illegal coca crops number. Indeed, this strategy has placed Colombia among the countries with the highest incidence of accidents and incidents related to landmines. This paper examines the problem of landmines in Colombia, and reviews mine clearance experiences in other countries in an effort to seek useful alter- natives applicable to the Colombian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an instrument of the Colombian market-led land reform, the Comprehensive Land Subsidy (SIT) provides for land entitlement to poor peasants and smallholders tied to the development of rural production projects, through a communal property regime in certain cases. Through the case study of Sandrana y Samaría, this paper seeks to analyze the extent to which this land reform instrument and its implementation conditions create the necessary framework for productive and community development based on the acquisition of a land title. To that end, the study focuses on the logic of the main aspects of this policy instrument in the context of the Colombian land reform policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a natural resource fundamental for quality of human life. Nevertheless, there are more than one billion people in the world without access to safe drinking water. The water crisis is mainly a crisis of governance, and corruption is one of the principal underlying factors. Due to the characteristics of water supply, the sector must be regulated. However, there are informational asymmetries in regulation, which are a cause of regulatory failures and make the sector more prone to corruption. In Colombia, water supply regulation has a legal structure that aims at stimulating participation, transparency, accountability and integrity. But, there is a significant gap between legal provisions and practice. This paper reviews the Colombian regulatory framework with the aim to identify such gaps and propose ways to strengthen the framework in order to safeguard the delivery of an efficient service to the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]