Geneva, 10 May 2019: Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has published a statement saying that the UN is “alarmed” by the “strikingly high” levels of violence against Human Rights Defenders and Social Leaders in Colombia. In 2018, the UN recorded at least 115 killings of Human Rights Defenders in...
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Threats against Indigenous Human Rights Defenders in La Guajira, Colombia
On 29 April 2019, Fuerza Mujeres Wayuu received death threats from a group identifying itself as Águilas Negras – Bloque Capital D.C. The following leaders were listed as particular targets: Karmen Ramírez, Miguel Iván Ramírez, Jakeline Romero, Deris Paz, Luis Misael Socarra and Dulcy Cotes. Moreover, members of the Wayúu community have reported the presence...
ZIDRES: Areas of Interest for Rural, Economic and Social Development
The Areas of Interest for Rural, Economic and Social Development (Zonas de Interés de Desarrollo Rural, Económico y Social – ZIDRES) were created by Law 1776 on 29 January 2016 to promote competitive economic development in rural farming areas in Colombia; there are over seven million hectares of land identified for ZIDRES projects. ZIDRES are...
Inspired by Colombian Women Human Rights Defenders
8 March 2019. Women in Colombia are peacebuilders, human rights defenders, land and environmental activists. Every defender has her own story. Women defenders come from all walks of life: they are Afro-Colombian or Indigenous women; LGBTI activists; lawyers; journalists and campesinas. Many women became human rights defenders as a result of their experience of being...
Colombian Human Rights Defenders continue to be killed at an alarming rate
On average, in the first three weeks of January 2019, one Human Rights Defender (HRD) was killed every three days in Colombia.[1] As 2019 starts, Colombian Civil Society Organisations face a continuing and escalating number of threats and attacks. The number of defenders killed continues to rise and the extremely high levels of impunity for...
Only 4% of gender-based agreements have been fully implemented in Colombia
To address the main challenges and progress with the peace agreement’s implementation, ABColombia is hosting an event focused on women’s rights in London, bringing victims, researchers and activists together to debate the issue. London – 25 February 2019: Colombia has a unique opportunity, in the implementation of the Final Peace Accord (FPA), to renegotiate women’s...
A River with Rights: Community Response to Illegal Gold Mining in Chocó, Colombia
Introduction The Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities living along the River Atrato in Chocó, as a result of the state’s failure to act to protect their rights, chose to use constitutional law, a “Tutela”, in an attempt to force the state to comply with its obligations to protect their fundamental rights and the rights of the...
Matarratón in El Porvenir: a short history
In August 2018 British Parliamentarians visited Matarratón in an effort to understand the complex situation of land. They found that peasant farmer communities and Indigenous Peoples despite the Land Restitution Law (2011) and the Peace Accord (2016) were facing a dangerous struggle to get their land rights recognised by State Authorities. The history of Matarratón...
2018 Delegation of Parliamentarians in Conversation with Rural Women in Villavicenco
Members of the British Parliament participating in the August 2018 Delegation were: Chris Bryant MP and Patrick Grady MP. MP’s Conversation in Villavicencio with rural women: Diana, Yenny and Yuanitza. A peasant farmer, an ex-member of FARC and a human rights defender. Other women joined them later in the discussion. We asked the women what...
ABColombia members reject the killing of Human Rights Defender José Antonio Navas
ABColombia members express their grave concern regarding the assassination of human rights defender and social leader, José Antonio Navas. Mr Navas, a partner of Christian Aid, and a member of the Campesino Association of Catatumbo (Ascamcat), was murdered by unknown gunmen who shot him and fled. Mr Navas, was 55 years old and the father...