The International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia

Day: 8 July 2025

Colombia at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council

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In this 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Colombia has been very present. In fact, 4 reports were presented.

  • Report on the visit to Colombia WG Business and Human Rights. You can see the interactive dialogue in this link (from minute 27:30) with the presentation of the visit report at 32:30, Colombia’s response at 36:10. Oidhaco welcomed this report and calls for countries to support the adoption of a binding treaty for business and human rights. We thank Peace Brigades International (OIDHACO member) and the Colombian Commission of Jurists (Colombian organization allied with OIDHACO) for their interventions (respectively at 1:52:18 and 1:47:30). Issues such as land dispossession, financing of illegal armed groups, threats to human rights defenders and social leaders, and an economic model that has marginalized indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant and peasant communities stand out.
  • Report of the visit to Colombia of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. You can see the interactive dialog in this link. The report of the visit to Colombia is presented at the time 1:14:35. Colombia responds at 1:18:30. The report highlights the efforts of the Colombian State but emphasizes that “the intersection of irregular migration, internal armed conflict and organized crime, both domestic and transnational, poses a significant challenge for Colombia. Migrants, whether settled or in transit, are exposed to multiple risks, including injury and death from violent actions in conflict-affected areas, forced displacement and recruitment, kidnapping and exploitation, including sexual exploitation.”
  • Report of the visit to Colombia of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. The interactive dialogue can be heard here at this link, starting at time 02:08:05. Colombia responds at 2:25:00. Unfortunately, at the moment the video of the social organizations’ intervention is not available. We will update this news as soon as it is available.
  • Technical Assistance Report to Colombia. You can see the first part of the interactive dialogue in this link from the moment 2:50:30, Colombia intervenes at the moment 2:57:30. The second part can be seen at this link. Many countries react to the work of the Office in Colombia (from 1:56:40): the European Union, Sweden on behalf of the Nordic countries, Belgium for the Benelux countries, New Zealand, Peru, Austria, Chile, UK, Spain, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Germany, Bolivia, Switzerland, Ireland, Cuba, Russia, China, Venezuela, Algeria. This shows the importance of the UN office in Colombia at the international level. Also numerous social organizations (from 2:25:30): Corporación Centro de Estudios de Derecho Justicia y Sociedad; OIDHACO; IDPC, CCJ, PBI, FIDH, International Service for Human Rights, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Alliance Globale contre les Mutilations Génitales Féminine. Some of the topics addressed were: gratitude to Colombia for its willingness, to the OHCHR for its work, concern for the financial situation of the office, concern for murders of defenders and signatories, need to touch on structural causes in Colombia, police reform and security sector, sexual violence, persistent impunity, murders of social leaders, LGTBIQ+ persons, recruitment and use of children and adolescents, situation of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, Truth Commission, protection model reform – territorial, ethnic and gender approach, forced displacement, Transitional Justice, Drug Policy. This debate shows the need to maintain strong support for the office in Colombia of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We would also like to highlight the report on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in relation to forced displacement. You can see the first part of the interactive dialogue with the presentation of the report by the independent expert starting at 2:07:30; the intervention of Colombia at 2:33:25 (on behalf of the group of friends of the mechanism); the second part with the intervention of the Ombudsman of Colombia at 37:35. It is a fundamental report to understand and make visible the differential approach in the context of forced displacement for the LGTBIQ+ population.

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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