Its mission is to strengthen the capacities of refugee and displaced populations and those affected by other forms of uprootedness to enhance their autonomous,democratic and intercultural organizational processes and incorporate a gender perspective to further their work on the promotion and defence of human rights,understood holistically. PCS im- plements activities and programs in Latin American countries in situations of armed conflict and post conflict, placing emphasis on populations affected by political violence, particularly refugees and the displaced.
Currently, PCS has two programs, one at the level of Latin America and the other in Colombia. Its mission is to strengthen the capacities of refugee and displaced populations and those affected by other forms of uprootedness to enhance their autonomous, democratic and inter- cultural organizatio nal processes and incorporate a gender perspective to further their work on the promotion and defence of human rights, understood holistically.

countries of Latin America in which its programs are being implemented.

The PCS Secretariat is located in Lima, Peru, where the Executive Directorate co-ordinates the work of the programs.It is supported by a central administrative and financial team based in Colombia and a Consultative Committee, in which Latin American and European experts participate by providing services on policy and specific programs.

PCS is developing activities in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations. It works with local counterparts and grassroots and church organisations and recognises those affected by the internal conflicts, especially refugees and displaced peoples and their organisations and social movements, as the participant population. The poorest and most vulnerable populations, particularly women and indigenous peoples, merit special attention as principal actors in the social and political processes in which PCS intervenes.

This work experience in the continuum from conflict to post-conflict, implementing its programs from a perspective of defending and promoting human rights and emphasising women's rights and capabilities, puts PCS in a privileged position to help develop the local capacities of refugee and displaced populations and build peace and democracy in the region.

From the beginning, PCS addressed its work in three directions: Humanitarian assistance and protection of the refugee and displaced populations; development and strengthening of the human and institutional capacities; Seeking to influence international policy.

In fulfilling the objectives of its mission, PCS provides humanitarian assistance and contributes to the social and political processes, critically accompanying its counterparts and allies. The whole set of activities of political, technical, organisational and administrative accompaniment is identified by the expression "counselling", and is thus part of the institution's name.

PCS advises and finances projects that are planned, monitored and evaluated with support from its teams of professionals, thus seeking the development of local capacities. Because it is a consortium and has relations with different financial sources, PCS develops synergies that redound in strengthening the impact of funds from small co-operation agencies together with resources from governments and multilateral organisations.