Human rights defenders in Colombia are subjected to threats, intimidation, forced disappearances, physical assaults, torture, killings, illegal searches on their homes and offices and stigmatisation as a result of their activies in defence of human rights. The perpetrators of these human rights violations are frequently armed opposition groups or paramilitary groups who claim to support the current government. Human rights defenders are often stigmatised as guerrillas or guerrilla supporters or are denoted as communists in order to discredit their legitimate and peaceful work. There is a reported trend of an increase in the number of threats received by email and that there is a growing tendency to confiscate or steal computer hard drives from the offices of human rights organisations.

The report of the UN SRSG demonstrates that groups of human rights defenders who are most targeted are “trade unionists, ethnic minorities, internally displaced persons, women, social and peasant organisations, teachers, university lecturers, students, health workers, Church representatives and sexual minorities” . Journalists who report on human rights abuses have also been subject to intimidation and attacks. Another key concern for Colombian human rights defenders is the Justice and Peace Law enacted in December 2005, to which they are strongly opposed as it has exacerbated the existing climate of impunity in the country and has allowed perpetrators of human rights violations to continue unimpeded. Ms. Hina Jilani, the UN SRSG on the situation of human rights defenders, carried out an official country visit to Colombia from 23 – 31 October 2001 and in 2004 she carried out a follow up country visit.

URGENT CASES

Colombia: Death threats and intimidation against members of human rights organisation MOVICE

Post date: 2012/05/17

On 8 May 2012, members of human rights organisation Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Estado (MOVICE – National Movement of Victims of the State) were subjected to death threats.

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Colombia: Attack on Women's Link Worldwide's Bogotá office and human rights defender Ms Mónica Roa

Post date: 2012/05/15

On 7 May 2012, the office of women's rights organisation Women's Link Worldwide in Bogotá was shot at, in an apparent attempt at targeting human rights defender Ms Mónica Roa.

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Colombia: Forced disappearance of human rights defender Mr Hernán Henry Díaz

Post date: 2012/05/9

The last information on farmer leader and trade union activist Mr Hernán Henry Díaz's whereabouts was from 18 April 2012 and to date no new information has come to light.

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Colombia: Renewed threats against human rights defender Mr Abelardo Sánchez Serrano

Post date: 2012/05/2

On 30 April 2012 two unidentified persons were witnessed taking photographs of the home of Mr Vladimir Amaya Garcés, a security guard assigned to HRD Mr Abelardo Sánchez Serrano.

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