The complexity and human suffering caused by trafficking in persons, the difficulties that victims face, and the challenges for the State to overcome in order to prevent and assist victims is immense. Therefore, it is important to consider that offering effective remedies to the victims contributes to the recognition of their dignity, the guarantee of their fundamental rights as human beings and prevents the occurrence of new cases. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the remedies available under Colombian legislation for victims of trafficking in persons. It will focus on determining the compliance of Colombian legislation to the Principles on the Right to Effective Remedy for Victims of Trafficking in Persons -A/HRC/26/18. For doing that, first, this paper will describe the anti-trafficking legal framework that is currently in place. Next it will analyze the definition of trafficking in persons provided in Colombian law. Third, it will examine the legislation compliance with the Principles and underline the main obstacles for implementing the legal framework. Lastly, it will present some conclusions. La complejidad y el sufrimiento humano causado por la trata de personas, las dificultades que enfrentan las víctimas y los desafíos que debe superar el Estado para prevenir y ayudar a las víctimas son inmensos. Por lo tanto, es importante considerar que ofrecer remedios efectivos a las víctimas contribuye al reconocimiento de su dignidad, la garantía de sus derechos fundamentales como seres humanos y previene la ocurrencia de nuevos casos. Por lo tanto, este trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar los recursos disponibles en la legislación colombiana para las víctimas de la trata de personas. Se centrará en determinar el cumplimiento de la legislación colombiana de los Principios sobre el derecho a un recurso efectivo para las víctimas de la trata de personas -A / HRC / 26/18. Para este fin, primero, este documento describirá el marco legal contra la trata de personas vigente en la actualidad. Segundo, analizará la definición de trata de personas prevista en la ley colombiana. En tercer lugar, examinará el cumplimiento de la legislación con los Principios y subrayará los principales obstáculos para la implementación del marco legal. Por último, presentará algunas conclusiones.

Los acuerdos de participación conjunta en licitaciones (JBAs por sus siglas en inglés) y los acuerdos de áreas de mutuo interés (AMIs) son comúnmente utilizados en la industria petrolera. Estos acuerdos incluyen cláusulas que limitan el derecho a competir entre las partes con el fin de garantizar que las firmas que comparten información confidencial, know how, tecnología y capital para desarrollar proyectos de exploración y explotación conjunta recibirán la porción correspondiente de los beneficios acordados. Este tipo de acuerdos de colaboración entre competidores le permite a las firmas compartir la exposición al riesgo, alcanzar sinergias y participar en esta industria intensiva en capital. Sin embargo, la pregunta que permanece abierta es cómo determinar si cláusulas que incorporan compromisos de licitar conjuntamente, que se incluyen en los JBAs y los AMIs, son ilegales a la luz del régimen de competencia de los Estados Unidos y si son proclives a ser investigadas por las autoridades de competencia de este país. Debidamente interpretado, el caso SGI Interest del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos arroja luces sobre la cuestión de la siguiente manera: Las cláusulas que incorporan compromisos de licitar conjuntamente, que son parte de un acuerdo de colaboración más amplio que contempla la realización de actividades mancomunadas de producción, no son ilegales pe se y tampoco son proclives a ser investigadas por esta autoridad de competencia. Joint Bidding Agreements (“JBAs”) and Area of Mutual Interest Agreements (“AMI Agreements”) are commonly used in the oil and gas industry. These agreements include provisions that condition the right to compete so as to guarantee that companies pooling confidential information, know how, technology and capital for pursuing petroleum exploration and production projects will receive the agreed portion of the benefits. These kinds of competitor collaboration enable companies to share exposure to risk, accrue synergies and participate in this capital intensive industry. However, the question that remains open is how to determine whether joint bidding provisions, commonly included in agreements such as JBAs and AMI, are unlawful under US antitrust regulations and whether they are likely to be challenged by the US antitrust authorities. Properly interpreted, the SGI Interests’ case issued by the US Department of Justice sheds light on the matter as follows: joint bidding provisions, which are part of broad collaborations that contemplate subsequent joint productive activity, are neither per se unlawful nor likely to be challenged by this authority.

The Latin American population in Sweden has been increasing, and Colombians accounted for 17-24 % of the total migrant population in the last 5 years. In migration, acculturation is a process where individual changes take place as a result of contact with other culturally dissimilar people, which is known by influencing positively or negatively the health status of immigrants. Different studies have examined migration and health status, health access and barriers of consultation. However, there is a lack of information regarding immigrants’ attitudes towards health services and the influence on health-seeking behaviors. The aim was to explore the attitudes and experiences that Colombian immigrants had in their first interaction with the primary healthcare center (Vårdcentral). More specifically, it sought to explore differences or similarities in the attitudes and experiences of the Swedish healthcare system compared those from Colombia. Consequently, eight semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with Colombian immigrants living in the south of Sweden using a snowball-sampling technique. A qualitative manifest and a latent content analysis were used for the analysis and interpretation of results. Three themes emerged from the analysis: ‘The language: playing the same game’, referred to the relevance of language providing autonomy and connecting with the new context. ‘The Swedish healthcare system: The disillusion when starting over’, referred to the contrasting perceptions of immigrants in their first interaction with the Vårdcentral, indicating a shock that made them change their health-seeking behaviors. ‘Acculturation is like going on a long pathway’: described the transition of personal thoughts and actions with the healthcare system, which constituted steps in the process of adapting to the Swedish Culture. Acculturation is a complex process that includes encounters with the healthcare system. Interventions, in healthcare, that facilitate immigrants to better adjust to a new society are required in order to ensure the acceptation of attitudes and practices leading to gains in health and well-being.

La contratación pública es la actividad a través de la cual grandes cantidades de recursos públicos son utilizados por entidades de esa misma naturaleza para comprar y adquirir bienes y servicios del sector privado. Cuando a esta actividad se le incorpora el uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación se genera el concepto de contratación publica electrónica, en inglés e-government procurement que a su vez tiene como sigla eGP. El presente documento describe el proceso de elaboración de política pública y regulación en material de eGP en Colombia. Subraya que sólo hasta hoy en día el sistema de contratación publica colombiano logró incorporar los dos pilares que la CNUDMI ha propuesto como bases legales para el eGP: 1. Reglas sobre publicación de información sobre procesos de contratación y, 2. Reglas sobre Equivalencia Funcional de documentos electrónicos expedidos con ocasión de la actividad contractual. Por Equivalencia funcional se debe entender el principio según el cual los documentos electrónicos reciben la misma validez y fuerza vinculante que los documentos expedidos en sopote papel. Esta investigación enfatiza que antes del 8 de julio de 2005, la regulación de Contratación Publica electrónica carecía del pilar de equivalencia funcional y que tal circunstancia hacia nugatoria la posibilidad de usar Tecnologías de Información en las labores de la Administración Publica. El documento explica cómo gracias a la expedición de la Ley 962 de 2005, el pilar faltante de equivalencia funcional fue establecido, ya que esta norma incorporó este principio para el general funcionamiento de la administración y sus procedimientos administrativos. Antes de exponer sus conclusiones, el autor sugiere su propia interpretación de la Ley 962/2005. Las fuentes que han servido de insumos para la elaboración del documento han sido documentos oficiales del gobierno colombiano así como regulación local, igualmente, legislación y reportes de organizaciones internaciones, libros y artículos en la materia. Este documento llega a la conclusión de que con la Ley 962/2005 las interpretaciones que existían en materia de contratación pública electrónica deben cambiarse al punto de que se acepte el uso de TI para el efecto de generar eGP en Colombia.

La vivienda ha estado presente como un elemento revelador de las diferentes evoluciones sociales. Como laboratorio de experimentación, ya sea en términos técnicos, espaciales o sociales, podemos constatar que la arquitectura doméstica evoluciona para adaptarse a los modos de vida. Sin embargo, hoy en día, algunos investigadores han comprobado que los proyectos de vivienda se encuentran frente a la ausencia de innovación y no son adaptados a los modos de vida de los habitantes, salvo algunas excepciones. Aunque los actores que participan en la producción de la vivienda, los arquitectos y los habitantes parecen ser insensibles al conocimiento de la evolución del habitat, las mutaciones sociales que transforman la vida en la ciudad indican que la vivienda no puede quedarse rezagada. Esta tesis propone un análisis de la evolución en los estilos de vida, como el motor de la innovación arquitectónica y urbana en la vivienda colectiva. El análisis de los mecanismos de innovación en la vivienda colectiva está construido en dos partes. El objetivo de la primera parte, es el de presentar las diferentes mutaciones sociales que tienen una incidencia en el habitat y los “dispositivos espaciales” correspondientes. La propuesta de esta tesis, plantea una atención particular en la vivienda colectiva como tipología residencial ubicada en el corazón de los desafíos de la evolución de los modos de vida. La segunda parte está consagrada al estudio de dos casos en una de las operaciones urbanas más importantes en Paris: Paris Rive Gauche. El tratamiento del contexto de la operación, el papel de los actores, los factores comunes y diferentes de los dos proyectos que condicionaron el éxito respectivo son presentados. De esta manera, gracias al análisis de las realizaciones efectivas de los “dispositivos espaciales”, las hipótesis de las mutaciones sociales evocadas en la primera parte son comprobadas. En fin, un tercer punto propone el análisis del proceso de innovación: el management del proyecto, la adhesión de los actores a este proceso, el desarrollo de las operaciones, las fuentes de la innovación. Para que la innovación en la vivienda colectiva se acerque más a la realidad que a una utopia, la tesis propone la declaración de algunas pistas de reflexión.

This investigation seeks to compare the legal frameworks developed in the 1990-2010 period in Colombia, Peru and Mexico to prevent and tackle informal artisanal/small scale mining. It does so by assessing the impact on the levels of informality of: (i) the incentives provided to miners to operate within legality; and (ii) the mechanisms devised to compensate such miners’ disadvantageous position vis-à-vis large scale mining companies. For such assessment a thorough examination of the countries’ mining codes is carried out. Concurrently, information extracted from semi-structured interviews with experts and triangulated with secondary sources is used to evaluate the codes’ impact on informality. The analysis supports the hypothesis that simple inexpensive mine title acquisition procedures, granting long lasting property rights, as well as guaranteeing technical and financial assistance, are key drivers of formalization. The impact of such incentives is, however, more complex: firstly, as the Mexican case illustrates, the absence of incentives combined with strong police persecution, can reduce informal mining by rendering it an unattractive activity with no prospective of future formalization. Secondly, the Colombian and Peruvian case exemplify how entry barriers also encourage miners to create associations which, in turn, are able to better access information, can comply with formal requirements more easily and can play an important role in influencing policy design. Furthermore, considering the incentives of large scale companies also proved crucial to reduce informality, given that a significant share of mining areas are already under concession. This means that the number of mine titles informal miners could potentially obtain is limited. Therefore, as the Colombian and Peruvian case exemplify, formalizing is to a large degree dependent on the willingness of these companies to voluntarily engage in associative contracts with informal miners. However, so far none of the observed countries has managed to prompt strong alliances between small and large scale miners to fruitfully implement such collaborative models. With regard to the compensation mechanisms, this study supports the hypothesis that granting political voice to small scale miners is of utmost importance to guarantee that differentiated costs, procedures and requirements are contemplated in the law. All in all, such policies have been innocuous and even counterproductive when not accompanied by measures that enhance access to information as well as local bureaucratic competences. In a context of scarce local bureaucratic resources, promissory formalization schemes generate a demand for mine titles that surpasses mining authorities’ capacity and, thereby, potentially incites more informality and social unrest. As observed in Peru, in such cases formalization processes can, paradoxically, induce higher levels of informal mining. In light of these findings, the study recommends the partner institution -Transparency International- to: (i) support the implementation of informational campaigns that explain the benefits of operating in formality and of doing so by means of associating; (ii) encourage policy dialogue spaces in order to prompt mutual monitoring and align the different stakeholders’ incentives; (iii) support capacity building programs targeting local mining authorities; (iv) support monitoring mechanisms in the mine title distribution and contracting processes.

Real Estate Industry is a strategic element in urban competitiveness, economic growth and development, as it facilitates the articulation between economic activities, local assets and flows of capital. Furthermore, even tough the perception is that it is a local business, with the globalization many of the largest developers and consumers of corporate real estate have become global (Bardhan & Kroll 2007). The foregoing has made the industry acquire a cross-border dynamic and makes the attraction of foreign investment into real estate development a key approach for improving the position of countries and cities in the global economic network. This work aims to explore the geographical structure and trends of the international Real Estate cluster, and then recognize the correlation of the Foreign Real Estate Investments –FREI– inward flows with competitiveness and real estate market factors of host countries and cities. The analysis shows that despite the globalization influence, FREI holds the concept of real estate as “local” business in a broader scale: 62% of the links happen within countries of the same region, evidencing that there are opportunities of complement with the surrounding economies. Likewise, the research demonstrates that the cluster involves primarily economies in second and third stage of development, exposing that the market is still reliant on low-risk assets in a stable environment and that there has not been established an active industry in developing countries. Additionally, the instability experienced over the last seven years in the sector is evidenced. The 2007 international financial crisis had a deep impact on Foreign Real Estate Investments, corroborating the interdependence between financial market and real estate.  This study demonstrates that location factors related to market size, labor market, financial market and connectivity are essential for attracting inward investments. The results of the model show that a variety of forces rule FREI, evidencing the need of having a comprehensive approach that surpasses the notion of real estate as property and involves other clusters. To conclude, the country and city analyses showed the diverse drivers for MNC at different territorial scales. Without neglecting the usual national purview of the policy framework for attracting FDI, it is important to acknowledge the relevance of local and urban scale in the broader picture of globalization. Beyond the macroeconomic and institutional determinants, the position of the urban nodes in the global networks matters for captivating FREI.

This thesis considers the most current knowledge of the importance of investing in early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs with a focus on the economic benefits: higher rate of returns to education, higher productivity, lower crime rates, higher government savings and breaking up intergenerational poverty. Although the evidence suggests significant short-term effects in terms of educational benefits (e.g. lower repetition rates and special education), the empirical evidence for the economic benefits is still not as significant as it is desirable for their generalization. Therefore, it shows the need for more reliable information to construct a stronger argument leading governments to decide ipso facto increasing the educational expenditures in early childhood education programs.

Despite the large amount of research on aid effectiveness, there is still no consensus about the impact of international aid on economic growth, especially of the World Bank assistance. Empirical studies are characterised to be limited on its methodology and present diverse conclusions. Moreover, the World Bank’s contribution to economic growth in developing countries has been questioned to the point to rethink its role as a source for development. Colombia is not external to these contradictions; however, this situation arises from perception surveys and national figures. This research evaluates the impact of the World Bank’s lending on Colombia’s economic growth by estimating a model using as a reference the Solow’s model, extended to include a World Bank lending variable. It is expected a positive relationship between the World Bank disbursements and Colombia’s economic growth, which highlights the importance of updating the borrowing strategy with the World Bank in order to take the best advantage of this multilateral finance source.