UN Human Rights asks the new Government of Colombia “urgent measures” against violence in rural areas

Massacres, homicides, disappearances, sexual violence, child recruitment and extortion of the population… the increasing violence perpetrated by armed groups and criminal organizations in rural Colombia is having a devastating impact, especially among women, children, Afro-descendants, community leaders, indigenous peoples, and human rights defenders, warns a report of the Human Rights Office.

In the document, published this Tuesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urges the incoming government, which will take office next month, to give priority to the fight against this violence. In addition, it establishes a series of recommendations for the authorities to apply urgently, in order to protect the lives and human rights of those affected.

Michele Bachelet thus coincides with the Security Council that this very week called on the Government of Colombia to rapidly dismantle the illegal armed groups in Colombia.

The signing of the peace agreements with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) in 2016 showed a drastic decrease in violence. According to the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (INDEPAZ), murders went from 12,665 in 2012 to 1,238 in 2016.

But in the last two years, non-state armed groups and criminal organizations, often involved in illicit activities such as drug trafficking and illegal mining, have expanded their presence in various regions of Colombia.

The response of the State, mainly military, has not been able to stop the expansion of the groups, and the scarce presence of civil institutions has aggravated the situation, according to the report. The lack of education and job opportunities has also increased the vulnerability of children and adolescents to being recruited. by armed groups.

In 2021, the UN Human Rights Office in Colombia verified the murder of 100 human rights defenders. Between January 1 and June 30 of this year, the Office received information on 114 homicides of human rights defenders, of which 22 cases have been verified so far.

Various tactics of criminals

Armed groups and criminal organizations have adopted various tactics to control communities, such as imposing regulations and restrictions on the movement of people.

“I am afraid because we have been with the presence of the dissidents for so long, imposing their rules and conditions that, even if we do not want to, we are part of it. We have to obey what they say (…) there are checkpoints on the road with men with long weapons, where they stop us, they tell us that we have to ask permission to leave and they check our cell phones,” said a human rights defender in the department of Arauca.

In some cases, indigenous and Afro-descendant have been forced to engage in illegal activities and abandon their traditional ways of life, such as fishing and hunting.

Armed groups and criminals violate human rights

The violence generated by groups destroys the social fabric of communities, endangering cultural identity and autonomy, the document states. Communities and their leaders who try to protect their lands, their lives, their culture and the environment face enormous risks.

“The communities and their leaders resist the pressure and violence of the groups to protect their territory, their lives, the environment and their culture. However, non-state armed groups and criminal organizations are responsible for massacres, homicides, disappearances, sexual violence, recruitment of children and adolescents, and extortion of the population, impacting the community’s ability to exercise and fully enjoy their rights. rights,” the report reads.

This is the case of the Nasa indigenous people in the department of Cauca, which has long been the object of threats and attacks.

In the first months of 2022, four Nasa leaders were assassinated. Violence, drug trafficking and extractive industries are threatening their way of life and even their survival, the report warns. Likewise, the current situation could accelerate the disappearance of the Jiw indigenous people, located on the banks of the Guaviare River and which currently has some 2,261 inhabitants.

The report notes that the dismantling of the broad spectrum of non-state armed groups and criminal organizations that operate in the country should be a priority for the governmentalong with the consolidation of the rule of law and the strengthening of public institutions in the areas most affected by violence.

Acts of violence committed by non-state armed groups and criminal organizations must be effectively investigated and their perpetrators punished, regardless of their affiliation.

UNMVC/Hector Latorre

Colombian Panoramic

Comply with the peace agreement

The report also calls on the new administration to ensure the full implementation of the peace agreementincluding the search for the voluntary substitution, instead of the forced eradication, of coca crops.

Rural reform and development programs must be implemented and consolidated, with the participation of affected communities. The capacity of local governments, including those of Afro-descendant and indigenous communities, must be strengthened.

The report also details concerns about human rights violations, including arbitrary deprivation of life, by state security forces, and calls for security sector reform. The report calls for an investigation into the alleged links between some state officials and security forces and these violent groups.

“It is the duty of the State to protect the population from violence, and to do so while respecting international human rights law. humans. That is why we urge the Government to adopt public policies to respond effectively to violence and prevent it, in compliance with Colombia’s obligations under international human rights law,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“The incoming government’s focus on full peace and regional implementation of the peace agreement is a strong approach that my Office supports,” added Michelle Bachelet.

“Dialogue is essential to rebuild trust in the State and its institutions. I urge the authorities to listen to the voices of all sectors of society. People living in rural and remote areas are the ones who have suffered the most from the scourge of violence, but they are also the ones who can best help chart a path towards a more peaceful future,” concluded Bachelet.