The UN worried about the number of killed human rights activists in Colombia

Last updated on February 5th, 2020 at 11:59 am

An alarm about the huge number of deaths of public activists in Colombia was expressed in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,

 “The vicious and endemic cycle of violence and impunity must end,” said High Commissioner spokeswoman Marta Hurtado.

 According to the UN, despite the peace agreement, people continue to die in Colombia.  According to official figures, 107 human rights defenders were killed in 2019, but after the investigation is completed, the figure is expected to rise to 120. In the first days of 2020, 10 deaths were already recorded in Colombia.

 Most of the reported cases of violent death occurred in rural areas, where poverty levels are high and illegal armed groups are active.

 On January 13, members of the Colombian Patriotic March movement made a statement that a “real humanitarian crisis” was occurring in Colombia, expressed in the mass death of activists with complete inaction on the part of the government, chaired by Ivan Duque.

 In 2016, a peace agreement was signed in Colombia between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (RAFC) on the cessation of hostilities.  The RAFC has registered as a political party, and the government has committed itself to providing security to members of the organization.  However, practice has shown that in many respects the obligations undertaken by the government remained only on paper.

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