Occupational therapy in Colombian law related to armed conflict

Abstract

Introduction: Specialized literature points the importance of occupational therapists during violent conflicts when reporting thoughts and experiences; however, works that explore the scope and career possibilities of occupational therapists in the light of current legislation are scarce. Objective: To analyze provisions in the Colombian legal framework related to armed conflict to identify content related to occupational therapy. Materials and methods: Documentary research on Colombian law regarding armed conflict. Results: The provisions consulted during this research do not mention occupational therapy. Regulations, according to practice areas, are distributed as follows: social welfare 21.8%, psychosocial welfare 21.8%, social and occupational welfare 20.6%, biosocial welfare 20.6% and education 14%, which mostly cover victims of the conflict and are interested in forced displacement. Differential perspectives regarding children protection and procedures such as direct care, group activities and intervention with families stand out. Conclusions: Occupational therapy should be promoted by professionals in settings different from the clinical context. The lack of clarity in the population and the ignorance of legislators regarding the scope of professional occupational therapists can be one of the causes of the omission of occupational therapy in the analyzed provisions. Challenges include the participation in scenarios involved in public policies, the dissemination of professional experiences in violent conflicts and the promotion of programs aimed at armed groups.

Keywords

• Terapia ocupacional
• Violencia
• Guerra
• Legislación como asunto