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
The RRW is a funding mechanism of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)that supports urgent, short-term, strategic initiatives led by women peacebuilders and women’s civilsociety organizations, to increase women’s participation and influence in formal peace processes and theimplementation of international, national or sub-national peace agreements.
The Colombian Government has adopted the 2026–2036 National Action Plan on Human Rights, a roadmap designed to guide State action over the next decade to strengthen the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. The Plan implements a commitment under the 2016 Peace Agreement and is integrated into the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian
May 27, 2026 The undersigned International civil society organizations that form part of Cooperation for Peace Space (ECP) make this statement in the current electoral situation. We warn that there is an escalation of violence and social control that entails coercion in the exercise of electoral democracy. We emphasize that there is a need to
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 its 2026 Report, the ILO Committee of Experts expresses deep concern over persistent killings and other acts of violence against trade unionists, particularly affecting areas such as Cauca, Antioquia and Norte de Santander, and calls for stronger protection and action against impunity. The ILO also highlights violence against Indigenous Peoples and their leaders, calling
Brussels, 27 April 2026 On the occasion of the Conference on the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels, to be held in the Colombian city of Santa Marta from 24 to 29 April 2026, the undersigned organisations reiterate the need for the EU and Europe to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and transform their extractive economic
The latest Report of the UN Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia examines the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement between 27 December 2025 and 26 March 2026, against the backdrop of legislative elections and preparations for the presidential elections. The report notes uneven progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement.
Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) threatens a just transition from fossil fuels and the urgent need for a social and ecological transformation for people and the planet. We welcome the recognition and inclusion of this risk within the thematic pillars of the First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels. We call on governments to begin
On Saturday 18 April 1998, Eduardo Umaña Mendoza was murdered. twenty-eight years on, Colombia remains one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders. Why? What can be done? We will attempt to answer these questions by:
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.