The International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia

Day: 22 June 2026

Human rights and peace at risk in Colombia following the presidential election

by

Press release

Brussels, 22 June 2026

We, Colombian and international civil society organisations, express our deep concern at the situation unfolding in Colombia following the election of Abelardo de la Espriella as president1. This new political context raises uncertainty regarding the continuity of progress on human rights, the full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and peace-building policies in the country, as well as potential setbacks in relation to the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ people.

Throughout his campaign, the president-elect disparaged international and multilateral institutions, stating in an interview with Semana magazine that “the UN and the OAS are political bodies of the left that have served no purpose whatsoever” and that he would therefore seek to withdraw Colombia from them. He went further, accusing the IACHR of “supporting the left and (…) persecuting members of the security forces”. Furthermore, in an interview with France 24, he stated that there would be no peace process under his government and that the only strategy he believes in is “one that is imposed by force of arms”.

In recent years, Colombia has faced significant challenges in consolidating peace, particularly in areas affected by the armed conflict. The persistence of violence, the rise in the number of armed groups and the vulnerability of communities, social leaders and human rights defenders call for a decisive response from the State. However, we fear that the government’s new policies may weaken the institutional and political mechanisms needed to advance the protection of fundamental rights.

We warn of the risk of a resurgence of the armed conflict, which will only lead to a significant increase in the number of victims, forced displacement, human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law. We are also concerned about the possible de-prioritisation of the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, which constitutes a state commitment and an essential roadmap for the structural transformation of the causes of the conflict.

In this context, we urgently call on the international community – in particular the European Union and its Member States, as well as Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom – to step up their support and monitoring efforts.

It is essential to promote the maintenance of effective forums for dialogue and engagement between the Colombian government and civil society organisations, such as the national and regional process on safeguards for human rights defenders and social leaders.

We call on the European Union, its Member States, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom to urge the new government to honour the commitments made by the Colombian State, including the full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, and to prioritise negotiated solutions to ongoing armed conflicts. Building a stable and lasting peace requires political will, the effective participation of civil society and full respect for human rights.

We, the undersigned organisations, reiterate our willingness to contribute to dialogue and to the development of solutions that safeguard the lives, dignity and rights of all people in Colombia.

Signatory organisations:

  • European Network OIDHACO – International Office for Human Rights – Action on Colombia
  • ACAT-Francia
  • Act Iglesia Sueca
  • Agir ensemble pour les droits humains
  • Broederlijk Delen
  • Comisión Ética Internacional por la Verdad. Sección Madrid
  • CooperAcció
  • DKA Austria
  • FOKUS Forum for Women and Development
  • Fondo Noruego para los Derechos Humanos
  • Fundación Kallpa
  • Fundación Mundubat
  • IFSI – ISVI vzw
  • International Action for Peace
  • kolko- derechos humanos por Colombia e.V.
  • Movimiento Por la Paz – MPDL-
  • Oxfam
  • Pax Christi International
  • Plataforma de Derechos Humanos – La Alianza de organizaciones Sociales y Afines por una Cooperación Internacional para La Paz y Democracia en Colombia
  • Red EU-LAT
  • Solsoc Asbl
  • Zehar-Errefuxiatuekin

1 According to the latest preliminary results, with 99,77 per cent of polling stations having reported their figures, pending the final count.

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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