Brussels 7 May 2024 Subject: Review of the free trade agreement between the EU and Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. To the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, As you are aware, the EU trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador was signed on 26 June 2012 ,ratified by Colombia on 18 July 2013
On 28 June 2023, a shadow human rights report on Colombia, prepared by an ad hoc coalition of 67 international organizations, coordinated by the International Human Rights Office – Action Colombia (OIDHACO) was published in Brussels ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for Colombia. The report was delivered to the Office of the High
The signatory organisations[1] express our concern about the security situation in the city of Buenaventura, particularly recent events against the community in the Santa Fe district of the city. This district is next to the port and logistics terminal of TCBuen, whose parent company is headquartered in Europe[2]. These incidents are taking place in a
Throughout 2020, we celebrated the fact that in 1995, the European Conference on Human Rights in Colombia was held in the European Parliament in Brussels, which led to the creation of the International Office for Human Rights-Action Colombia (OIDHACO). Find in this article our analysis on why international support is still needed for Colombia.
Report elaborated by Oidhaco in collaboration with Catapa for the evaluation by the EU Commission of the Trade Agreement. Concerns have been raised by civil society organisations about the negotiation process for the Trade Agreement between the European Union, Colombia and Peru and its approval in the European Council and European Parliament. These organisations questioned
Oidhaco elaborated 11 fact sheets about topics related to Human Rights and Peace in Colombia. In every fact sheet there is a short summary of the topic related to the situation of Human Rights and the humanitarian situation in the country. At the bottom of every document, there are concrete recommendations addressed to the European
On 20 April this year, 25 members of the European Parliament from three political groups and nine different countries sent a letter[1] to the Colombian authorities expressing concerns about the possible impacts of the Hidroituango hydroelectric project.
A publication by OIDHACO detailing a number of emblematic cases within the context of business and human rights. Colombia, traversed from south to north by three Andean mountain ranges, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the north, the plains to the east and the Amazon rainforest to the south,
Call to European Commissioners for public consultation on the revision of the “Handbook for Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment” (2006) Several European and international organizations sent a letter to the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Mamström, and Commissioner Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, calling for public consultation on the revision of the “Handbook
European Union needs to rethink its Latin America and the Caribbean relations Over 100 organizations presented their recommendations to the European Union during the second EU-CELAC Civil Society Forum held in Brussels, organised by CONCORD and Mesa de Articulación, last March 19. See attach
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.