The International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia

Parliamentary question regarding Socio-environmental conflicts and territorial rights in Chocó, Colombia

We would like to thank MEP  Rima Hassan and Cristina Guarda for raising the issue of the risk that EU trade and supply chains linked to Colombia may be connected to human rights violations.

Here is the full text of the question submitted on 17 March, which can be found on the European Parliament’s website at this link. Social organisations will be following up on the European Commission’s response.

Socio-environmental conflicts and territorial rights in Chocó, Colombia

In Chocó, Colombia, the expansion of extensive livestock farming, legal and illegal mining, aerial spraying of monoculture and large-scale deforestation is affecting over 65 000 hectares in the Lower Atrato region[1] and is having a serious impact on the territorial, environmental and cultural rights of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. Between 2020 and 2023, over 94 % of Colombia’s wood flooring exports lacked legal certification of origin, with around 20 % directed towards markets such as the EU.

In this context:

  1. How does the Commission assess the risk that EU trade and supply chains linked to Colombia may be connected to human rights and environmental violations in Chocó and what due diligence and monitoring mechanisms are in place, including under the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products[2] and the EU Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence[3], to prevent such impacts?
  2. Under Global Gateway, what environmental, social and human rights safeguards apply to projects in Colombia and will EU funding be contingent upon respect for territorial rights and free, prior and informed consent?

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