A new government for Colombia
Gustavo Petro takes office (Image: US AID)
In 2021, the UN Human Rights Office in Colombia verified the killing of 100 human rights defenders.
Between 1 January and 30 June this year, the Office received information of 114 killings of human rights defenders, of which 22 cases have been verified so far. [OHCHR]
Colombia is the deadliest country in the world for human rights defenders.
As armed groups continue to war over rural territories once controlled by the FARC, human rights defenders opposing the presence of paramilitaries have become targets of violence which goes underreported and uninvestigated. Limited implementation of protection mechanisms, access to public services and opportunities and agrarian justice all act to increase the threats faced by social leaders and activists (particularly for women and those from Indigenous and rural communities), with over 500 defenders killed since the 2016 signing of the Peace Agreement.
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, recently drew attention to the extreme threats faced by environmental activists and Indigenous communities when they raise concerns about business projects.
This year’s presidential election took place against the backdrop of this violence, and it is this violence that will colour the first 100 days of Gustavo Petro’s government.
Inaugurated yesterday, Petro is Colombia’s first leftist president. He takes power following a year of social unrest sparked by increased taxes, corruption, and the failures in the healthcare system exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, Petro and the Pacto Histórico por Colombia (Historic Pact for Colombia) coalition’s proposals of radical systems change promised a much-needed diversion from the establishment and a ‘new Colombia’: tax reforms, renegotiations of free trade agreements, labour and pension reforms, gender equality, and the promotion of greener and fairer energy. With these policies, Petro has promised what human rights defenders have been calling for for decades: packages of agrarian reform, effective rights protection mechanisms, and emergency plans to combat hunger.
Also on the agenda is ‘Total Peace’ - an ambitious proposal to negotiate a sustainable and complete end to the armed conflict through the aforementioned political and agrarian reforms, extensive citizen engagement and dialogues, and renewed negotiations with armed groups. Petro has also promised reforms to the police and State security forces and a move away from militaristic responses to illicit activities that have put communities at even greater risk. Iván Velásquez Gómez, newly appointed Defence Minister will be central to this process. Velásquez has acted as a UN anti-corruption investigator in Guatemala and a former assistant judge in the Colombian Supreme Court and is well aware of the need to address allegations of corruption and violence by security forces, and to protect those working to seek justice after conflict.
PBI will be watching as the new government takes power and navigates this time of extreme change. And at every stage, we will be there to continue to support human rights defenders at risk.
PBI has teams of international staff and volunteers across Colombia supporting at-risk human rights defenders.
Watch ‘Land of Corn’ and hear more about the situation of land defenders across Latin America
