%0 Article %A Pérez Samaniego, Santiago J. %D 2012 %T Análisis de la realidad social-jurídica de la población colombiana en el cantón Yantzaza, provincia de Zamora Chinchipe %U http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaiart?codigo=3917874 %X Ecuador, one of the smallest countries in South America, until June 2011, has recognized 54,467 refugees, 98% of which are Colombian. This large number of refugees is distributed in different locations throughout the country. The Colombian population identified in this research has moved to Ecuador from the northern border during the short recent history due to Colombia´s internal armed conflicts waged by the Colombian government against various groups, including guerrilla and paramilitary groups, persons in organized crime, drug traffickers, and attacks against coca growers in the form of fumigations. These problems, along with the prevailing economic crisis in Latin America have caused groups of Colombians to leave their lands in the hope of finding safety, work, and a better future for their families. This is the case of a particular group of Afro-Columbians (mostly) who have resettled in the Yanzatza Canton of the Providence of Zamora Chinchipe in southern Ecuador. The analysis of this type of population is necessary in order to understand the extreme complexity and vulnerability that prompted the Colombian migration. This research will contribute to the Ecuadorian and international society by using the problems in southern Ecuador as a study tool to understand the social context of the Colombians and analyzing for to implement national and international standards for refugees. The research takes into account the current laws of national and international asylum for refugees used commonly by Colombian people seeking international protection. These legal instruments have been incorporated throughout the research. This study will focus on identifying the legal problems of these groups, their immigration status, their call status in case of international protection and the process of socializing, educating and integrating refugees into the local society. Analyzing the case of migration from the northern border to southern Ecuador, especially Yanzatza Canton, Province of Zamora Chinchipe, the research focuses on the assimilation process of the refugee population with regard to the workplace where the Colombians serve, their economic insertion in society including, living conditions for themselves, their chances of access to basic services and their perception of the relationship with the Ecuadorian population.