Ruling T-025, 2004 on Displaced Persons Ruling T-025, 2004 on Displaced Persons I. CASE Ruling T-025, 2004 II. JURISDICTION Third Review Chamber of the Colombian Constitutional Court III. THEMATIC FOCUS - Right to human dignity and housing - Role of courts in determining state expenditures - Culpability of State omissions IV. NATURE & CONTEXT OF THE CASE 1. Procedural History Approximately 108 tutela actions (claims of unconstitutionality) were filed with the Constitutional Court by 1150 family groups, all of whom belonged to the internally displaced population, with an average of 4 persons per family, and primarily composed of women, elderly persons and minors, as well as a number of indigenous persons. Plaintiffs claim to lack access to health care, resources to pursue an education, and lack of housing. Judges in lower courts denied granting these tutelas for a variety of reasons, some of which include that plaintiffs failed to follow proper procedures in filing and that “the tutela action was not created as a mechanism to alter the order of State institutions, in regards to the internal distribution of their jurisdiction and functions.” This appellate review court consolidated all of these previously denied actions. 2. Parties Plaintiffs (described above) are persons who became victims of forced internal displacement due to events related to Colombia’s internal armed conflict that took place within two years of this action, versus numerous state municipal and departmental administrations. 3. Date January 22, 2004 V. SUMMARY OF THE CASE 1. Background and summary of the facts

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