• Colombia: Investigate Bomb Attacks in Southwest
    The Colombian government should ensure prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into two bomb attacks against police stations in southwestern Colombia, which are reported to have killed at least 10 civilians and wounded more than 65.
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  • Human Rights in Colombia

    Colombia’s internal armed conflict leads to serious abuses by guerrillas and successor groups to paramilitaries -- including massacres, forced displacement, sexual violence and use of child soldiers -- and to violations by the military. Armed actors threaten or attack human rights defenders, journalists, community leaders, trade unionists, and victims seeking justice and land restitution. The government of President Juan Manuel Santos passed a law to return millions of acres of land to displaced persons. But government-supported constitutional reform proposals could shield abusers by expanding the role of military courts and allowing amnesties.

Reports

Colombia

  • Colombia: Investigate Bomb Attacks in Southwest
    Feb 3, 2012
    The Colombian government should ensure prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into two bomb attacks against police stations in southwestern Colombia, which are reported to have killed at least 10 civilians and wounded more than 65.
  • Colombia: Shelve Proposed Expansion of Military Jurisdiction
    Dec 12, 2011
    I am writing to express my deep concern with the “justice system reform” bill your administration is currently promoting that would expand the scope of military jurisdiction over cases of abuses by Colombian security forces. Article 11 of the bill would amend the constitution to provide that all acts committed by active security force members during operations are presumed to be “related to service,” and therefore subject to military jurisdiction. This article—which would result in cases of human rights violations by security forces being handled by the military justice system—directly violates jurisprudence by Colombia’s high courts and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well the views espoused by other relevant international human rights bodies.
  • Colombia: FARC’s Killing of Captives a War Crime
    Nov 28, 2011
    The killing of four captive members of the Colombian security forces by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) shows the guerrilla group’s blatant disregard for human life and the laws of war.
  • Colombia: Ensure Justice for Anti-Union Violence
    Oct 3, 2011

    I am writing to follow up on the very constructive meeting we had in Bogotá this June regarding the problem of impunity for anti-union violence in Colombia. We are encouraged by the steps the Attorney General’s Office is currently taking under your leadership to address this longstanding problem. Yet we also believe further measures are needed to ensure that your efforts succeed and the era of unchecked violence against trade unionists in Colombia is finally overcome.

  • Colombia: Investigate Spate of Killings by Armed Groups
    Jul 8, 2011
    The massacre of seven people in southern Colombia, allegedly by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrillas, underscores the ruthless tactics employed by the country’s armed groups. The Colombian government should ensure prompt and thorough investigations of these killings, on July 2, 2011, as well as recent killings of members of indigenous communities in northern Colombia, allegedly by successor groups to paramilitaries.
  • Colombia: Victims Law a Historic Opportunity
    Jun 10, 2011
    Colombia’s new Victims and Land Restitution Law offers a historic opportunity to restore millions of acres of land to Colombians who have been driven from their homes by violence. Successful implementation of the law will depend on the government’s ability to protect displaced communities from the powerful armed groups that oppose the restitution of these lands.
  • Death and Drugs in Colombia
    Jun 2, 2011
  • Colombia is 100th Country to Ratify Disability Rights Treaty
    May 16, 2011
    Colombia is the 100th country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a symbolic step towards achieving universal respect for the rights of more than 670 million people with disabilities worldwide, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Human Rights Watch Wins 3 Webby Awards
    May 4, 2011
    Human Rights Watch has won three prestigious Webby Awards for its video and multimedia work, drawing attention to human rights crises in Colombia and Congo. The winning projects tell the stories of brave human rights defenders and survivors of abuses in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • US/Colombia: Rights Conditions Crucial for Trade Deal
    Apr 7, 2011
    The US Congress should insist on vigorous enforcement of human rights commitments by Presidents Barack Obama and Juan Manuel Santos before moving forward on the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
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