The International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia

OIDHACO welcomes the letter from MEPs to the presidential candidates in Colombia

Brussels, 7 May 2026. The International Office for Human Rights – Action Colombia (OIDHACO) welcomes the publication of the letter signed by MEPs from four political groups, addressed to the candidates in Colombia’s presidential election, in which the European Parliament reaffirms its unequivocal commitment to building a stable, lasting and inclusive peace in the country.

In the letter, signed in Brussels on 7 May 2026, Members of the European Parliament stress the importance of the next government reaffirming its commitment to the full implementation of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement, including its territorial, ethnic and gender-related aspects, as well as following up on the recommendations of the Truth Commission.

The European Parliament also emphasises the need to move towards negotiated solutions to the armed conflicts still ongoing in these territories, stressing that any negotiation process must be conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and with safeguards to ensure the safe participation of civil society.

The letter also expresses deep concern at the continuing killings and threats against social leaders, human rights defenders, community representatives and signatories to the peace agreement, and stresses that their effective protection is an essential prerequisite for democracy and peace-building.

At OIDHACO, we view this statement as a very significant political signal at a decisive moment for Colombia. “We believe the European Parliament’s commitment to peace and the protection of human rights defenders and community leaders is of fundamental importance,” said Maïté Verheylewegen, President of OIDHACO.

She also pointed out that “Colombian society continues to face the consequences of armed conflict, which lead to lockdowns, displacement, asylum, deaths, the recruitment of children and teenagers, suffering, hatred, and so on. The path to peace is not an easy one, but it is the only way; more war means more deaths”. OIDHACO reiterates its call for the next Colombian government to prioritise the full implementation of the 2016 Agreement; to strengthen forums for dialogue and negotiation by demanding that armed groups respect international humanitarian law; and adopt urgent and effective measures to guarantee the lives, safety and work of those who defend human and environmental rights, as well as those who lead social and peace-building processes in the territories. It also urges the new government to make progress in formulating and implementing public policies aimed at human security and the protection of life, ensuring continuity and strengthening processes of collective and territorial development, in constant dialogue with communities, community-led initiatives and social organisations.

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Letter from the MEPS

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Our solidarity is universal.

We are deeply concerned about all victims of armed conflict, repression and violence around the world — from Sudan to Syria, including the persecution of the Rohingya and so many other crises that often receive less international attention than they deserve. Each of these situations calls for solidarity, remembrance, justice and action.

However, we have decided to specifically highlight the message ‘Stop Genocide in Palestine’ because what is happening in Palestine represents not only a human tragedy of enormous magnitude, but also a direct challenge to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and to the rules-based international system itself. The indifference and complicity of much of the international community in the face of the apartheid regime imposed by the Israeli government on the Palestinian people represent one of the greatest moral and political contradictions of our time.

The persistent violation of essential norms — such as the protection of the civilian population, the prohibition of collective punishment and respect for proportionality in the use of force — not only has devastating consequences for the Palestinian population, but also erodes the global mechanisms designed to limit the power of states and prevent abuses.

When these rules are repeatedly breached without any effective consequences, the framework that protects all populations in conflict situations, anywhere in the world, is weakened. Therefore, speaking out in this case does not mean ignoring other forms of suffering, but rather emphasising the urgency of defending an international order which, if it collapses, leaves everyone in a more vulnerable position.

Drawing attention to this situation is, therefore, an act consistent with the universal values we uphold: the protection of life, human dignity and respect for international law, without exception.

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