Peace Construction in Colombia based on Compliance with Companies’ Legal and Social Responsibilities

Construcción de paz en Colombia a partir del cumplimiento de la responsabilidad legal y social de las empresas

In accordance with Article 333 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, there is freedom concerning the economic activity and the private initiative, within the limits of the common good. Companies, as the basis for development, have a social function that implies certain obligations. Therefore, it is important to understand what is the projection and limit of businesses’ freedom as well as their social function. This limit must be drawn from the concept of the Social State of Law, which according to the Political Constitution characterizes Colombia and by which all people must live subjected to the law, taking into consideration that our rights end where the rights of the community begin. Accordingly, we need to address the issue of legal and social regulations of companies, with the purpose to determine which are the rules that regulate the social relations within, and what are the legal obligations that an entrepreneur acquires, which also intends to provide businessmen legal certainty as investors. In this sense, social responsibility in the business or corporate sphere is understood as the commitment that public and private organizations assume in relation to society, which must also be reflected in social investment with the communities and the environment.