Country Demographics:

• Population:  42.3 million                                      
• Religions:   Roman Catholic 90%, Other 10%
• Income Per Capita:  $1,957.45 year/ $5.44 day
• Government Type:  Republic; Executive branch dominates government structure
  Chief of State:  President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since August 2002)
  Note: The president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legal Profession:

• Estimated number of lawyers in Colombia is 150,000
• Estimated number of believers involved in the legal profession is 1,500
• One of two local Christian lawyers groups is Red Colombiana de Abogados Cristianos—Dialogar.  The group currently has 20 members and is led by David Perez Palacio.  A second group is the Betesda Association.

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

Christian lawyers in Colombia are involved with the following:

• Coaching pastors and their communities in civic participation
• Providing free counsel and representation in human rights cases

Convocation Goals:

• Delegates from Colombia are looking forward to gainingnew relationships, learning from the experiences of others, and sharing their experience with other Christian lawyers at the Convocation.

Prayer Items:

• That warfare would come to an end and that the children of Colombia will be able to live in peace.

Contact Information:

• David Perez Palacio dajur66@hotmail.com

ªColombia In Actionª

The Christian lawyers in Colombia are actively involved in serving the victims of political violence in Colombia, especially those that have been displaced from their areas of origin.  David Perez is continuously traveling to teach human rights in small towns as well as instructing people how to watch for land mines, which are located in extensive areas of the Colombian territory.