Law 2479 of 2025 - A step toward autonomy for youth in protection
Law 2479 of 2025, known as the "State's Children Law", was approved by the Colombian Congress on July 15, 2025 and creates the National Comprehensive Support Program for graduates of the ICBF protection system. This law aims to guarantee comprehensive support, social inclusion and real opportunities for young people leaving the ICBF who lack family or community support networks. It was driven by ASCEP since 2019, initially championed by congressman Jhon Arley Murillo and taken up in 2023 by Senator Lorena Rios.
Ley aprobada por el Congreso de Colombia el 15 de julio de 2025
Nombre con el que se conoce esta ley que protege a los jovenes egresados del sistema de proteccion estatal
Crea el programa que brinda apoyo en educacion, empleo, vivienda y salud mental
Strengthen state services for young graduates
Establish support networks with social and community organizations
Facilitate social inclusion and access to job and educational opportunities
Develop social, emotional, educational and job skills
Provide economic support during the transition
Creation of Support Units with interdisciplinary teams. Personalized support in life project, health, employment and autonomy.
Monthly subsidy for 6 months after graduation, through the DPS.
Basic, secondary and higher education (ICETEX, SENA). Formal employment and entrepreneurship with incentives. Loans and subsidies with preferential rates.
Participation of CSOs, private sector, religious organizations and volunteers.
Commitment signing and possibility of monitoring the program.
Teams responsible for care and preparation for autonomous life of adolescents under protection.
Entities interested in youth employability, education, mental health, housing, entrepreneurship, spirituality, culture and support networks.
The law creates the National Comprehensive Support Program, providing health, education, subsidies and psychosocial support. It includes Comprehensive Support Units to strengthen skills and economic support equivalent to 80% of the minimum wage for six months after leaving the system. It also promotes autonomy and comprehensive well-being through employment programs, business training and preferential credit lines.
El ICBF es la entidad responsable de formular, coordinar e implementar el Programa Nacional de Acompanamiento Integral para los jovenes egresados del sistema de proteccion estatal.
Equipos interdisciplinarios encargados de brindar apoyo personalizado a cada joven durante su transicion a la vida independiente, incluyendo orientacion psicologica, social y laboral.
Sistema de informacion que permite identificar, caracterizar y hacer seguimiento a los jovenes que egresan del sistema de proteccion, facilitando la articulacion de la oferta estatal.
Asignacion economica mensual durante los primeros 6 meses posteriores al egreso, gestionada a traves del Departamento de Prosperidad Social (DPS), para garantizar una transicion segura.
Cupos prioritarios en instituciones de educacion basica, media y superior (ICETEX, SENA), y en programas de empleo formal y emprendimiento del Gobierno Nacional.
Participacion de organizaciones de la sociedad civil, sector privado, organizaciones religiosas y voluntariado en el fortalecimiento de redes de apoyo para los jovenes egresados.
Law 2479 of 2025 assigns the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) a central and operational role in implementing its objectives. The ICBF, as head of the National Family Welfare System, has several key responsibilities:
Graduates of the protection system should not only be beneficiaries of Law 2479, but active subjects, co-responsible and protagonists of its implementation, monitoring and improvement. The law exists because organized graduates raised their voices; therefore, their natural role is to guard its meaning, monitor compliance and bring it to life in the territories.
ASCEP is the organization called to sustain the meaning, implementation and social sustainability of Law 2479. It was not only its promoter: today it is its main social reference actor.
The bill was driven by graduates themselves through ASCEP, backed by Senator Lorena Rios and with reports by Alexandra Vasquez and Jairo Cristo. It was approved in the Congress of the Republic and signed by President Gustavo Petro.
Effective implementation requires commitment from everyone: government, civil society, private sector and media. You can raise awareness in your community, volunteer as a mentor, establish partnerships with ASCEP and ICBF, and advocate for public policies that guarantee the well-being of young graduates.
Join us to build a dignified future for every young graduate of the protection system.
Join ASCEP