Colombia: forced disappearances are not a legacy of the past, but an everyday reality

He UN Committee against Forced Disappearances concluded his visit to Colombia this Thursday, highlighting systemic deficiencies such as the fragmentation of the legal framework, institutional ineffectiveness, and the lack of clarity about the real number of missing people.

During its mission, which began on November 21, the delegation met with 80 authorities, including the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General, the Ombudsman, victims and civil society organizations in Bogotá, Cali, Cúcuta, Medellín , Santa Marta and Villavicencio.

He also visited five detention centers and attended proceedings in cemeteries overflowing with unidentified bodies, and a crematorium.

“Although forced disappearances in Colombia began in the 1940s, they are not just a crime of the past. They continue to occur daily throughout the country in different circumstances”declared the delegation.

Families who don’t know who to turn to

The delegation’s preliminary findings indicate that forced disappearance covers all age and demographic groups, and affects children and adolescents, social leaders, migrants, journalists, demobilized combatants and teachers, among others.

Cases of forced recruitment, human trafficking, forced displacement and migration, as well as disappearances linked to social protests, are especially alarming, the Commission indicates.

Also worrying are the barriers that families face when seeking support, due to the complex legal and institutional framework.

One victim shared his frustration with the delegation: “We don’t know where to turn. We do not have the information and knowledge to demand our rights. Whatever the authorities tell us, we believe it. But, many times, they say confusing things and it seems that they do not want to attend to our case. We, the family, are shot between institutions, with no end in sight.”

Duplicating mandates and endless institutions

The Commission emphasized that there are overlapping mandates and ineffective coordination. Entities such as the National Search Commission, the National Search System and the Search Unit for Missing Persons created by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, for example, have duplicate mandates.

It is estimated that, if one of these units initiates a search process, it would have to coordinate with around 60 other national and territorial authorities. These institutions often work in silos, leaving victims trapped “in bureaucratic dead ends.”

Officials admitted that coordination meetings, although numerous, rarely translate into concrete actions. “We met and we met more,” an official told the delegation. “But there are so many tables that we have two options: not go, or not do our basic work.”

The absence of a centralized and reliable registry of missing persons exacerbates the problem. The figures reported to the Committee range between 98,000 and 200,000. Discrepancies between institutional records make it impossible to determine the true extent.

Fear of reprisals and lack of trust in authorities further discourage reporting, especially in areas controlled by armed groups and organized crime.

Victims from marginalized communities, such as migrants, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombian people and LGBTIQ+ people, also face geographical, linguistic and other obstacles.

Thousands of unidentified bodies lie in poorly managed cemeteries or warehouses, such as a hangar at the Bogotá airport, where some 20,000 unidentified bodies are currently stored.

Simplify the system so that it serves victims and not the other way around

The Committee called for immediate and concrete actions, emphasizing that strengthening coordination between existing institutions is a fundamental first step.

“Rationalizing mandates, reducing bureaucratic overlap, and fostering collaboration are essential for the system to work for victims and not against them,” the delegation stated, adding that “it is not about creating more institutions or laws, but rather to articulate and reinforce those that already exist.”

The Committee also stressed the need for sufficient funding and specialized personnel and to address impunity. “Accountability mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that officials and institutions are held responsible for their actions, or inaction,” he said.

On the other hand, they highlighted the commitment and professionalism of some officials in addressing forced disappearance. “This level of dedication must become the norm,” they indicated.

“The families of the missing deserve clarity, justice and accountability. “Each missing person represents a family waiting for answers, a torn community and a society facing unresolved pain,” the delegation stated.

The Committee, which has shared its preliminary findings with Colombian authorities, will publish a full report in April 2025.

The delegation was composed of Carmen Rosa Villa Quintana, member and former president of the Committee, Juan Pablo Albán Alencastro, rapporteur of the Committee, Albane Prophette-Pallasco, secretary of the Committee, and Carla Villarreal López, human rights officer.