U.S. Office on Colombia

The U.S. Office on Colombia (USOC) is an independent non-profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, which seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia. USOC seeks to promote peace, democracy, human rights and international humanitarian law in Colombia by providing detailed, informed analysis to assist in the development of policy solutions.

To this end it maintains relations with the U.S. administration, Congress, Colombian authorities and E.U. governments and encourages each to examine these questions from new perspectives. Through education with the media and the U.S. public it aims to broaden knowledge, understanding and debate of these key issues. In particular it seeks to support initiatives from Colombian civil society, whose voice is so often marginalized in a society polarized by conflict. USOC was established in 1998 in response to the continuing human rights crisis in Colombia and the desire by many Colombian civil society groups to have an organization in Washington that could assist them in their efforts to educate U.S. decision makers about the effect of U.S. policies in the region.