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’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.

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.