The protection of the life of trade unionists has been a central aspect of the government's Policy on the Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Human Rights and the Application of International Humanitarian Law. This is chiefly attended to through the Witnesses and Threatened Persons Protection Program and the Inter-Institutional Commission for Workers' Human Rights.

The Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Members of Social Organizations and Witnesses of Human Rights Violations and Breaches of International Humanitarian Law, run by the Ministry of the Interior, carries out a constitutional and legal mandate and the international human rights treaties signed by the Colombian State. Its work, focusing on prevention and protection, is agreed between social organizations and the national government. The Program is implemented by the State's security bodies after a risk evaluation committee, composed of representatives of trade union and human rights organizations, government officials and members of the Police and the Administrative Department of Security (DAS), decides on the most convenient measure to be taken in order to immediately minimize the vulnerability of the leaders under threat. The Witnesses Protection Program provides humanitarian assistance, communication equipment, allowances to cover relocation expenses, national and international air fares and accommodation, allowances to initiate business projects, allowances for the physical protection of headquarters, training in self-protection and self-security, and hard protection.

Of all protection schemes provided by the Program in the year 2000, 69 per cent benefited trade unionists, and the remaining 31 per cent, human rights defenders. In addition, the Program provided funds for 136 domestic and 51 international air tickets. Furthermore, 228 living-expenses allowances were granted for escorts assigned to trade-union organizations, and five special land transport units were hired for these organizations. Between January and May 2001 the Program assigned Col$ 584 million to 318 cases involving trade-union organizations and leaders. It has also provided 670 communication sets, including satellite and cellular telephones and Avantel radios, 83 humanitarian assistance grants for use within the country and 36 special grants, and 53 national and 8 international air tickets.

This year the Program has also provided 60 mobile protection schemes for the safety of unionists, including 28 individual, 16 collective and 16 supplementary schemes. The DAS allocated Col$ 3,000,000 of additional expenditure for these schemes, and agreed to bear the cost of maintenance and fuel of vehicles for a year, as well as the cost of 124 escorts. For its part, the Ministry of the Interior spent Col$ 2,392 million in 48 vehicles, including registration expenses and insurance. The total investment made by the Ministry of the Interior in its Program for the protection of trade-union organizations between January and May 2001 amounts to Col$ 2,976 million, of which Col$ 2,000 million came from an addition to expenditure, and Col$ 976 million from funds allocated for the Program for this financial year.

Clearly, the Government has intensified its efforts to provide protection for trade union leaders. This involved an investment of approximately Col$ 6,000 million in the first five months of the year. However, this amount is still insufficient given the escalation of attacks on trade unionists.  

The Prosecutor General's Office has made significant efforts to protect the human rights of trade unionists. In October 1999 it set up 25 special units to investigate human rights violations committed against them.

The national government and the Colombian State have stepped up their efforts to solve cases of threats, disappearance and murder of trade unionists, as part of a strategy to fight against impunity included in the Policy on the Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Human Rights and the Application of International Humanitarian Law. This is specifically provided for among the mechanisms established for the implementation of this Policy. The Inter-Institutional Commission for the Defense, Protection and Promotion of Workers' Human Rights, created in 1997 as a governmental consultative and coordination body, deals with cases of violence against trade unionists and trade union leaders, particularly those submitted to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association. The Commission is presided over by the Labor Minister, and its members include the Attorney General of the Nation and the Prosecutor General of the Nation. Guest members may include a representative of the ILO, members of trade union and social organizations, members of non-governmental human rights organizations, and experts. The Commission provides a space for discussion and agreement regarding the protection, defense and promotion of human rights, in which the trade union federations, the Episcopal Conference, the "José Alvear Restrepo" Lawyers Group, and the Colombian Commission of Jurists, among others, have taken part.

With funds raised through international cooperation, the Presidential Program for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law monitors investigations and takes steps in connection with cases of human rights violations committed against trade unionists, such as the murder of Jorge Ortega, of the Trade Union Confederation (CUT), and the attack against Wilson Borja, also of the CUT.

A large number of measures have been adopted, but the difficulties are also numerous. The seriousness of the situation and the large number of threats against the life of trade unionists has prompted the national government, through the Minister of Labor, to request the Attorney General of the Nation to set up a unit to promote and monitor the progress of procedures concerning trade unionists.

International organizations have warned Colombia of the pressing need to take measures to protect the life of trade unionists. A special representative of the International Labor Organization (ILO) has just visited the country. In view of the persistence of the situation and without resorting to the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry, the ILO has decided to initiate a technical assistance program to help the Colombian government adopt protection measures for trade union leaders. This particular instance of international support will make it possible for the tools designed for the protection of trade unionists to be reinforced, and will strengthen the strategy adopted by Colombia to promote and defend the human rights of workers and trade union leaders, including trade union freedoms.