21 October 2026

Internationally recognised human rights defender visiting London says hard-won gains are at risk

Campaigners are warning that key achievements of Colombia’s landmark Peace Accord are under growing threat – ten years after the agreement helped bring an end to decades of armed conflict.

Colombian human rights defender Marcela Sánchez arrives in London next week to campaign against attempts by Colombia’s government to water down the peace accord.

Widely regarded as a global landmark, Colombia’s 2016 Accord was the first of its kind to include a gender perspective, recognising the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and LGBTQI+ people.

It also created a transitional justice system to deliver truth, justice and reparations to victims. Those mechanisms have enabled thousands of survivors, including people targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to have their experiences formally recognised and addressed.

But campaigners say those gains are now under increasing pressure.

Recent government moves, including Colombia’s withdrawal from the Equal Rights Coalition and plans that could weaken key transitional justice institutions, have raised concerns among human rights organisations about the future of victims’ rights and protections for women and LGBTQI+ communities. Proposed cuts to peacebuilding and transitional justice budgets have added to fears that progress achieved over the past decade could be reversed.

Marcela Sánchez, Executive Director, Colombia Diversa, said: “Ten years ago, the Peace Accord made history by recognising LGBTQI+ people as vital peacemakers, not just victims. We cannot afford to roll back the clock. Weakening transitional justice institutions risks abandoning LGBTQI+ communities, women and survivors all over again.”

The concerns come ahead of a key United Nations Security Council decision on the future of international support for Colombia’s peace process. A process the UK leads on at the Security Council.

The Colombian government has called for the removal of the Accord’s Rural Reform chapter from the Council’s mandate. Human rights groups argue the UK, as the UN pen holder, has a vital role to play in ensuring the chapter stays as it’s essential to tackling the root causes of conflict and delivering justice for victims.

Louise Winstanley, Programme and Advocacy Manager, ABColombia, said: “If the Rural Reform chapter is removed from the mandate, victims will hear one message loud and clear: that the international community has abandoned them. The Security Council must stand united to prevent that outcome.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Interview opportunities: Marcela Sanchez and Louise Winstanley

Marcela Sánchez will be available for media interviews in London from 26-29 October. She can discuss:

• Why LGBTQI+ and women’s rights protections in Colombia are at a critical moment.
• The impact of proposed changes to Colombia’s transitional justice system.
• Ongoing threats facing LGBTQI+ communities in conflict-affected areas.
• What is at stake for victims as the Peace Accord reaches its tenth anniversary.
• Roll-back on gender and equality policies by the De La Espriella Government.

Louise Winstanley, ABColombia Programme and Advocacy Manager

• The UK’s role at the UN Security Council in supporting Colombia’s peace process.
• Situation of insecurity for communities, community leaders and human rights defenders
• The role back of policies protecting rights in the first 10 weeks of the De La Espriella Government

Media contact:

Ana Reyes Hurt

Advocacy and Communications Officer, ABColombia

areyeshurt@abcolombia.org.uk | 07894 267934

Colombia Diversa is a leading Colombian human rights organisation that defends the rights of LGBTQI+ people through legal advocacy, documentation of violence, victim support and engagement with Colombia’s transitional justice system.

ABColombia is the joint advocacy project of CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, SCIAF and Trócaire, working with Colombian partners to advance human rights, peace and sustainable development.

Marcela Sanchez will be speaking in parliament alongside Former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos on 28 October at 5:30pm – invitation only – Journalists welcome – please contact Ana Reyes Hurt (contact details above)

Notes:

• 19% cut to the JEP budget will impact funds available for reparations and for hearing evidence from victims in rural areas.
• Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing the cut is roughly US$15 million (22% of their budget) the unit warned this would force at least 50% of its forensic identification centres to close and hamper the search for more than 137,000 missing Colombians.
• The far-right government have proposed legislation that would reduce the time the JEP functions.
• A separate bill proposed by the Centro Democrático party, is that the Military Justice System automatically reviews Transitional Justice rulings when they involve the security and police forces.
• The Government of Colombia is replacing the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace with the High Commissioner for Security.