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The Information and Orientation Centers (Puntos de Atención y Orientación in Spanish, PAO) are a UNHCR initiative established since 2017 and currently implemented in 24 departments and 53 municipalities. Since 2021, this project has been implemented by Corporación Opción Legal with the support of UNHCR.
The PAOs are physical spaces that enable any person in need of protection to access reliable and secure information, and make informed decisions about their rights, protection pathways and available services in the territory. In this way, refugees and migrants, as well as internally displaced persons or Colombian returnees can ask questions and find answers.
The people assisted in the PAOs are registered in UNHCR’s case registration and management system (PRIMES), which allows the collection, maintenance and analysis of data and information on each person assisted. Following the identification of specific protection needs (SPNs), a referral is made to specialized services to ensure an appropriate response.