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A large
number of social organizations work in Colombia for the promotion, protection
of, and respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. They
are committed to the defence of social groups, the pledges of fundamental
rights violations, the struggle against impunity, prevention tasks, the
alleviation of suffering of the victims of violence, and the diffusion
and teaching of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Their
role is fundamental and legitimate in the context of Colombian democracy.
This is fully recognized by the government. The fact that many of the
tasks taken up by organizations which defend Human Rights coincide with
those taken up by the State, allows dialogue between these organizations
and the government, and also makes concerted work possible.
Human
Rights defenders, labor unionists, promoters of indigenous peoples' causes,
and social and political activists, are being threatened, persecuted,
and even killed. The headquarters of some of their organizations have
been attacked. The majority of these hostile acts are perpetrated by illegal
armed groups, particularly self-defence groups. The Human Rights Unit
of the Prosecutor Attorney General's Office is carrying out 17 investigations
of homicide and threat against members of Human Rights organizations.
Complaints submitted to the Office Obdusman indicate the origin of threats
against the life of Human Rights activists. The complaints relating to
the guerrillas are about infringements of humanitarian protection rules.
The heads of social and Human Rights organizations have requested protection
to the government. The government has reinforced measures in order to
control such an extreme situation.
In addition
to its commitment to find solutions to the structural causes of the conflict
which make Human Rights defenders vulnerable, the Government's policy
on the promotion of respect for, and the guaranteeing of Human Rights
and the application of International Humanitarian Law has, among its priorities,
that of guaranteeing the personal integrity of Human Rights defenders.
In an educational effort, a campaign has been launched for the recognition
of the legitimacy of the work of Human Rights defenders. Moreover, efforts
are being made to reinforce links between the Government, the Armed Forces
and the Police, on one hand, and Human Rights defenders and labor union
leaders, on the other hand. Meetings between the Military Forces' General
Command and Human Rights NGOs are being held in the most critical areas.
The Government is promoting, by the Attorney General, the review within
legal limits, of intelligence files where wrong information on non-governmental
organizations of Human Rights is kept.
Ever since 1997 the Ministry of the Interior has been carrying out a program to protect witnesses and people under threat. This program is also aimed at protecting Human Rights defenders and the headquarters of their organizations, through communication systems, the provision of transport facilities, security systems and escort services, and also through preventive, self-protective and sensitizing actions. Preventive measures also extend to labor unionists, journalists, pro-indigenous activists, political leaders and university teachers who are in situations involving risks to their lives and personal safety. The budget for this purpose has been strengthened with an additional eight billion pesos this year, allocated to the Interior Ministry and the DAS (Administrative Department of Security) for communication systems, the provision of emergency aid, personnel and overheads, and equipment and vehicles for escort services. The program has made it possible to provide personal protection for members of Human Rights organizations and labor union leaders, and also to provide security to their headquarters in several regions of the country. Labor union leaders have requested escort and armoured-car protection. Members of Human Rights organizations have requested communication and transport equipment. Ever since 1997 security has also been provided to the headquarters of 88 different organizations, among them the CUT -Colombian Workers Central Labor Union-, the Political Prisoners Committee, the UNEB -National Union of Bank Workers-, Fensuagro -National Unitarian Agricultural and Livestock Federation-, Sintraminercol -National Mining Company Workers Union, Mineralcol, Ltda.-. Personal protection has also been provided to the heads of Fecode -Colombian Federation of Education Workers-, CUT, USO -Oil Industry Worker's Union-, Sintracreditario -Agrarian Credit Bank's Union- and Fenaltrase -State Worker's National Federation- labor unions. Requests for personal and institutional protection submitted by Human Rights organizations are being evaluated. |
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