Alert to the international community regarding serious violations of fundamental rights and freedoms in Colombia in the context of abuse and intimidation by the state
Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) expresses and reiterates its concern about the weakening of the rule of law, as well as the continuous and systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Colombian government, especially the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples, Afro- descendants and rural communities. We support their mobilisation and legal actions in defence of their territories and fundamental rights.
We view with concern statements from our partners, such as the Embera Chami People of Caldas, the Proceso de Comunidades Negras and various Amazonian indigenous peoples' organisations, who have denounced the brutal repression of social protests, including violence and the indiscriminate killings of demonstrators perpetrated by state actors. This includes a recent massacre committed on the 3rd of May in the Siloé neighbourhood of Cali, where minors were also allegedly killed.
These abuses and atrocities are deepening in the context of the pandemic and are evidently part of a series of violations and events that are taking place under the current government.
These regressive measures seek to severely weaken the rule of law; co-opt and control entities to avoid the normal checks and balances of a functioning democracy; and endanger the territories and lives of indigenous peoples, black communities and rural populations. On the 1st of May 2021 the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, ordered the militarisation of Colombia's cities. This was followed by the governing political party declaring a State of Siegevii - both actions seriously threatening the country's rule of law.
The current, and growing, violent repression of social protest with firearms using live ammunition disregards the international prohibition on the use of lethal weapons during the policing of public protests.viii At the same time, access to justice is being limited as is the protection of personal integrity as the lives of human rights defenders are endangered, especially those who defend their communities and collective rights. This new repression adds to the continuous regressive measures that undermine the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples and black communities to control their territories and their right to free, prior and informed consent
Appeal to the Government of Colombia and the International Community
Emphasising the relevance of national and international scrutiny in relation to the allegations of gross and systematic human rights violations perpetrated in the context of social protests in recent days, FPP, in solidarity with peoples and social organizations in Colombia, urges that:
The National Government and the Colombian State:
- Immediately adopt the necessary measures for the cessation of the disproportionate use of force by the Security Forces in the context of the social protests.
- Issue statements condemning the disproportionate use of force and demand strict compliance with international human rights standards on the matter, which require legality, necessity, proportionality and non-infringement of specially protected groups.
- Ensure that security forces intervening to protect and control the development of demonstrations and protests have, as a priority, the defence of the life and integrity of people exercising their right to protest. Given the repeated human rights violations in the context of protests, the need to dismantle the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad is evident.
- Promote Inter-American human rights standards according to which public officials have the duty to refrain from making statements that stigmatize or incite violence against people simply for participating in a protest.
- Immediately adopt the necessary measures to guarantee access to justice and full reparation for all persons whose rights have been violated, including due diligence investigations and punitive sanctions for all state agents responsible for human rights violations.
- Cease any attempt to enact legal and political reforms that represent a regression of rights, including proposals to reactivate aerial spraying with glyphosate; and attempts to regulate and limit the right to free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples (among others).
- Enable and apply institutional reforms, the restructuring of the security and justice sectors, and actions to ensure the access of vulnerable groups to social programs aimed at overcoming injustice and inequality.
The International Community, States, intergovernmental organisations, international financial institutions, investors, and companies:
- Condemn these types of acts and abuses committed by the national government and call on the Colombian government to immediately stop the violent repression of public protests
- Evaluate the international support given to Colombian Security Forces when a state's doctrine is in violation of international standards and norms that regulate the use of force, especially against the civilian population in the current context of the protests and the pandemic, and which may risk enabling the generalised character of serious and unpunished human rights violations, including homicides.
- Demand a prompt and official investigation into compliance with human rights due diligence, in conformity with the State's obligations to ensure proportionate and timely punishments for all persons responsible for crimes of this magnitude.
- Refrain from contributing to the financing of sectors that threaten the fundamental rights of the population, including the right to life and physical integrity.
- Refrain from authorizing investments in a country with serious challenges to its rule of law and democratic institutions, especially while serious violations of fundamental freedoms and their enjoyment in civic spaces continues to be denied.
- Apply rigorous corporate due diligence to respect the rights of indigenous peoples, black communities and rural populations throughout supply chains, current business operations and planned investments in Colombia, including through the application of specific safeguards to protect human rights defenders.
More information
Overview
- Resource Type:
- News
- Publication date:
- 6 May 2021
- Region:
- Colombia
- Programmes:
- Conservation and human rights
- Partners:
- Proceso de Comunidades Negras (PCN) y Palenke Alto Cauca (PAC)
- Translations:
- Spanish: Alerta a la comunidad internacional sobre graves violaciones a las libertades y derechos fundamentales en Colombia en el contexto de una política estatal de vulneración de los derechos e intimidación