SOCIAL LEADERS, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND SIGNATORIES OF AGREEMENTS MURDERED IN 2024, 2025 AND 2026. According to Indepaz’s monitoring of political violence and human rights abuses, Colombia continues to face persistent violence against social leaders, human rights defenders and former FARC combatants who signed the 2016 Peace Agreement. Indepaz reports that 187 social leaders and...
Macro-Case 07 is one of the landmark investigations undertaken by Colombia’s Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz (Special Jurisdiction for Peace – JEP), the transitional justice system established under the 2016 Peace Accord. The case investigates the forced recruitment and use of children during the armed conflict between 1971 and 2016. It is divided into two sub-cases: (1) crimes committed by the former FARC-EP;...
‘We won’t give up, we’ll keep fighting’: activists in Colombia vow to resist far-right push for fossil fuels. Colombia has become a key battleground in the global struggle between environmental defenders and a resurgent far right aligned with fossil-fuel interests. It focuses on activists, Indigenous communities, Afro-Colombian groups and local organisations resisting oil, coal and...
On 21 June 2026, the Colombian presidential election saw the closest contest in the country’s history, with just one percentage point separating Abelardo de la Espriella — a right-wing outsider entering the political arena for the first time — and Iván Cepeda of the left-wing Pacto Histórico. The election of De La Espriella, adds to...
In Memory of Gustavo Gallon 1952 – 30 June 2026 It is with great sadness that ABColombia learned of the death of Gustavo Gallo. We mourn his passing and are thinking of his family and his colleagues at this time. Gustavo was an incredible human rights defender, who sought and obtained justice for so many....
Gustavo Gallón, human rights defender and Colombian ambassador in Geneva, dies. Colombian human rights lawyer, academic and diplomat Gustavo Gallón, who served as Colombia’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva since 2022, has died in Switzerland after a period of serious illness. Widely regarded as one of Colombia’s foremost human rights defenders, Gallón founded...
New Allegations Emerge Over Gustavo Petro Administration’s Talks With Clan del Golfo. President Petro is making a final effort to secure a legacy for his “Total Peace” policy through negotiations with the criminal organisation known as the Clan del Golfo, despite mounting setbacks and criticism. The talks have become increasingly controversial following the release of...
“Cúcuta is a city silenced by fear”: journalist receives death threats. Ignacio “Nacho” Arango, director of the digital news outlet Noticias Cúcuta 75, described Cúcuta as “a city silenced by fear”, arguing that journalists, social leaders and ordinary citizens face constant intimidation from criminal groups, corruption networks and armed actors. In an interview following the...
London, 17 June 2026 — As Colombians prepare to vote in the second round of the presidential election this Sunday, 21 June, the outcome is expected to shape the country’s approach to peace, human rights, security and environmental policy for years to come. Polls point to a close race, leaving the outcome highly uncertain. The...
Joint Submission to the Labour National Policy Forum: Kickstart Economic Growth – Bringing back pride in our communities ABColombia, ActionAid, Action for Southern Africa, Corporate Justice Coalition, Earthsight, Labour Behind the Label, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Peace Brigades International UK, and Water Witness, supported a joint submission urging the Labour...
