This section is contributive by NGO's and other institutions
 

NGO: Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights

The Committee is a state-recognized organization, Legal Register No. 3547 of 1985, ruled by duly approved by-laws and directed by a board elected in General Meetings. Its current chairman is Doctor Alfredo Vásquez Carrizosa.
In the pursuance of its fundamental aims, the Committee has, from its inception, provided support to the victims of Human Rights violations and their relatives. It has given them assistance before the authorities, demanded from the authority respect for, and protection of the rights and liberties of individuals, and denounced the different forms of violations, both nationally and internationally.

In order to give direction to its policies regarding Human Rights and peace, the Committee has held eight National Forums on Human Rights and over twenty Regional Forums, with the plural participation of leaders of a diversity of social sectors. These events have resulted in very significant initiatives, some of which have become national laws, including Law 35 of 1982 on General Amnesty. Other initiatives were incorporated into the 1991 Constitution, among the writers of which was doctor Alfredo Vásquez Carrizosa. Others have given rise to vigorous campaigns and demonstrations in favor of Human Rights.

The Committee publishes, on regular bases, a newsletter, the format of which has changed according to the Human Rights situation. It has also published the proceedings of some forums and a number of studies, including one on massacres in Colombia between 1980 and 1993.

Currently, the Permanent Committee is carrying out a program aimed at the creation of Local Human Rights Committees, in accordance with law 136 of 1994. It is also coordinating research projects and actions for the defense of Human Rights, liaising with most non-governmental organizations. These include the "Coordinación Colombia-Europa", of whose Operations Team it is a member, and the "Nunca Más" (Never Again) Project, in which it is taking part as a member of the Board of Directors.

Over 20-year's worth of work in favor of Human Rights has gained the Permanent Committee a national and international reputation as a serious and respectable organization. But it has also had to pay a high price in terms of human lives, as 29 of its members, including a number of important figures, have been murdered.

Peace has been a main concern for the Permanent Committee. It is in favor of a politically negotiated solution to Colombia's internal armed conflict. In keeping with this idea, it has promoted mobilization of the citizens to press for dialogue and negotiation as the first step in a process of National Reconciliation.

An initiative of the Permanent Committee led to the creation of the "Comité de Búsqueda de Paz" (Pro-Peace Committee), with the participation of over 70 social organizations of a national level, the main trade unions among them. This committee has conducted national and regional forums on peace, and is currently working towards the convocation of a Permanent Assembly of the Civil Society for Peace.