The newsletter includes information on: peace process; the land issue – protests in the Catatumbo region, mining and forced displacement -; justice and military jurisdiction; human rights defenders situation, in particular journalists; and EU policy.
defenders
Support to the Human Rights Defenders of the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace
More than 130 organizations and networks from Europe, the United States, and Latin America express their support to the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace after new attacks against the organization and its members.
The signatories to this statement would like to reaffirm our support for the human rights defenders of the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace (Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz, CIJP) in the context of increased attacks that threaten their lives and attempt to undermine their legitimate and essential work for democracy and peace in Colombia.
The criminalization of human rights defenders in Latin America – An assessment from international organisations and European networks
This paper aims to describe the expressions and trends in criminalization in Latin America, and to make recommendations to the EU and the United Nations on the basis of examples from emblematic cases in Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and Colombia.
The use of the Law and the administration of justice for the benefit of groups who hold economic and political power are not new in the history of some States in Latin America. These phenomena have generally occurred within contexts of dysfunctional democracies, high levels of impunity, social and economic inequality, and excessive use of police and military forces and private security companies. In recent years we have observed with great concern a sharp increase in the tendency to persecute, punish and criminalize social protest activities and the legitimate claims of those who promote and defend human rights, especially in cases related to large-scale economic investment.
International Organisations express grave concerns at the irregularities in the Judicial Process leading to the conviction of David Ravelo Crespo, Colombian human rights defender
After more than 26 months in prison awaiting sentence, the renowned human rights defender David Ravelo Crespo has been sentenced to more than 18 years in prison on charges of aggravated homicide.
Today, on International Human Rights Day, as International NGOs and networks we would like to express our grave concerns regarding a series of irregularities that have been reported during the trial. According to the defence lawyers, these irregularities have undermined the defence of Mr. Ravelo and the integrity of the subsequent conviction.
Newsletter 4
European Policy on Colombia The 23 May 2008, in Paris and simultaneously to its general assembly, OIDHACO presented to the press its recommendations on Colombia for the Slovenian and French Presidencies of the European Union (EU).
The 23 May 2008, in Paris and simultaneously to its general assembly, OIDHACO presented to the press its recommendations on Colombia for the Slovenian and French Presidencies of the European Union (EU). The document, which is supported by 60 European organisations, had been previously submitted to the Slovenian and French governments (respectively the 7 and 22 May 2008).
Recommendations letter to the EU on Colombia
In 2010, Oidhaco sent a series of recommendations to the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies of the European Union, supported by some 90 European and international human rights organisations, development agencies, solidarity groups and church organisations. On 18th and 19th May 2011, the International Office on Human Rights Action on Colombia (Oidhaco) held its General Assembly, composed of 32 European and international organisations, and Colombian human rights coordination groups. We believe that the recommendations we made in 2010 (please find attached) are unfortunately still all too relevant this year, and so we attach them once again for your consideration
In August 2010 the new government in Colombia expressed a public commitment to the promotion and defence of human rights as a “profound democratic, ethical and human conviction”; promised to address the structural causes of poverty; and showed openness to the possibility of dialogue as a path to peace within Colombia. Civil society organisations in Europe and Colombia alike have been asking for these statements to be quickly translated into substantial, concrete and effective policies that will make a real difference in the lives of victims of human rights violations and their defenders. However, to date, some 8 months into the administration, we find that massive human rights violations persist, that Colombia still remains an extremely dangerous place in which to defend human rights, and that there has been no real improvement in the lives of poor and marginalised communities.
Serious attacks against human rights defenders and people struggling for peace
Recent weeks have been marked by assassinations and forced disappearances of people struggling for peace and respect for human rights. The document presents the situation on the bases of different cases and includes recommendations.
In late March we reported on the worsening of attacks against human rights defenders in Colombia . Unfortunately, since March this trend has been confirmed. Recent weeks have been marked by assassinations and forced disappearances of people struggling for peace and respect for human rights. In the first three months of 2012, thirteen human rights defenders were killed; that is one each week .
What else should happen in Colombia for the EU to publicly condemn this situation?
In recent weeks, activists and defenders have been murdered and disappeared; 13 defenders have been killed over the past 3 months. Oidhaco calls on the EU to follow the example of the UK and make public its concern.
In recent weeks, enforced disappearances, the killing of trade unionists, leaders claiming land, and human rights defenders, as well as the threats constantly received by organisations and defenders, are cause for extreme concern. In the first three months of 2012, thirteen human rights defenders have been killed; that is one each week. “These murders show that there are no guarantees for the work of defending human rights in Colombia. The EU, through Catherine Ashton, should urge the Colombian government to guarantee protection for activists and respect for social movements calling for peace, “said Vincent Vallies spokesperson for Oidhaco.
March 2012: Deep increase of attacks against human rights defenders
Over the last days and weeks, attacks and harassment against them have been particularly serious. Oidhaco sent data and some cases to the European authorities and request them to take action.
According to a recent report of the Somos Defensores Programme, in the year 2011, 239 human rights defenders suffered attacks, 49 of which were murdered and 6 disappeared, which represents a deep increase in comparison with 2010 (32 human rights defenders murdered) . Those who struggle for the protection of the environment and those who lead land restitution processes are particular targets of these attacks. Of particular concern is the remerging of enforced disappearance among modalities of attacks.
Human rights situation in Colombia – DROI hearing – 19 March 2012
Analysis on the situation in Colombia on the occasion of the hearing of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament. It deals with, among others, the persistent violations of IHL, impunity and attacks against human rights defenders.
In the face of the lack of guarantees for the fulfilment of human rights in Colombia, continued impunity, the persistence of the armed conflict, as well as the lack of mechanisms in the Agreement to guarantee real protection for human rights, OIDHACO considers that the European Parliament should not ratify the Agreement with Colombia while there are not significant changes with regards to these issues. The ratification of the Agreement with Colombia would give out a signal of approval for the policies of the Colombian government, and ignore the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in the country.