On average, in the first three weeks of January 2019, one Human Rights Defender (HRD) was killed every three days in Colombia.[1]
As 2019 starts, Colombian Civil Society Organisations face a continuing and escalating number of threats and attacks. The number of defenders killed continues to rise and the extremely high levels of impunity for this crime has meant that there is little to deter the authors and perpetrators of these crimes.
In fact, spaces that civil society created during the height of the conflict to protect the civilian population are also being attacked. On 26 January 2019, three men from neo-paramilitary structures entered the Puente Nayero Humanitarian Space, in Buenaventura.[2] They attacked and robbed Mr Norbey Gutiérrez in his home. ABColombia partner the Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace -CIJP) report that the neo-paramilitaries are from the group known as the “Urabeños”. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) issued special protection measures for the Puente Nayero community, which it expects the state to implement.
On 14 February 2019 CIJP reported the killing of Martín Barrios, 25 years old, by the neo-paramilitary group the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC). Martin was the son of human rights defender Imber Barrios. Imber Barrios is a community leader in the Humanitarian Zone of Bella Flor Remacho, in the collectively owned territory of Jiguamiandó, Chocó. He is engaged in making a claim for land restitution. Martín was killed when he was in the local town of Belén de Bajirá with his wife and daughter. The CIJP report that Belén de Bajirá is under the control of the AGC neo-paramilitary group and that the communities in this region are being stigmatised. Neo-paramilitary presence on the collectively owned territories of Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó have continued to spread fear among communities.
Other communities in Colombia are also experiencing the impacts of a continuing armed conflict: in the first 25 days of January 2019, over 1,300 people were forced to flee their homes to escape from extreme violence.[3] This adds to the continuing worrying trend: according to OCHA, over 145,000 people were forced to displace from their homes in Colombia in 2018
The continued violation of the rights of the rural population in Colombia include the failure on the part of the State to fulfill its commitment to the Victims and Land Restitution Law 1448 passed in 2011. It committed to return land to those who had been forcibly displaced by the conflict. In the last seven years, only 7.37% of claimants have received a decision. This law only has another three years to run and threatens – given the slowness of its implementation – to violate the rights of land claimants and to dash their hopes and dreams of returning to their land.
State response to the killings of Human Rights Defenders
The Government of Ivan Duque, in response to the international concern regarding the situation of security and the numbers of killings of HRDs in Colombia, announced a new plan to address the security of HRDs, namely, Plan de Acción Oportuna de Prevención y Protección para los Defensores de Derechos Humanos, Líderes Sociales y Periodistas (Timely Action Plan on Prevention and Protection for human rights defenders, social leaders and Journalists – PAO). Initially, it was understood that the director of the PAO would be General Leonardo Alfonso Barrero Gordillo, despite the accusations against him for trying to obstruct investigations into the series of extrajudicial killings, known as Falsos Positivos .[4] Subsequently grave concern at this appointment was expressed by Colombian CSOs. The Interior Minister Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez, then assured civil society organisations (CSOs) that General Barrero was not going to be the director of this new POA, it would be the Interior Minister herself who would be responsible for this programme. However, General Barrero would be the liaison between this programme and the Security Forces. [5]
It is important to ensure co-ordination between the different programmes for the protection of HRDs. The POA programme therefore needs to be monitored by the National Security Guarantees Commission. The National Security Guarantees Commission is the policy committee set up as a result of agreements made in the Peace Accord. It has ministerial level representation and experts from civil society organisations (CSOs). It’s responsibilities include formulation of policies to ensure that neo-paramilitary groups are dismantled, as well as, the security of ex-FARC combatants, HRDs and social leaders . Sufficient resources and political support for the POA are also key ingredients in promoting the success of this programme.
In his end of mission statement in December 2018, Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, whilst seeing the POA as a positive move, emphasised that
… the participation of civil society, Defensoria del Pueblo (Human Rights Ombudsman), and Procuraduria (Inspector General) in the development of the Plan is crucial. Equally so, the coordination of the PAO Commission with other previously established dialogue settings where civil society actors engage with State entities. It is important that the PAO does not overshadow or weaken existing protection mechanisms. Building on previous agreements, mechanisms and policies will be fundamental to guarantee trust in the process by all concerned stakeholders.
Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
Recommendations
It is essential to tackle the high levels of impunity for the threats against, and the killing of, HRDs, as well as ensuring that the authors and perpetrators of these crimes are prosecuted
Colombia should ensure it fully supports the prosecute and conviction of those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity through the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), for this Transitional Justice System to function effectively it is essential that it is fully resourced. To date its budget has not been fully funded. ABColombia therefore recommends to the International Community and to the Colombian Government that they ensure that the JEP receives a 100% of its budget.
Notes
[1] Norwegian Refugee Council, ‘More violence marks beginning of 2019 in Colombia’ (28 January 2019)
[2] See also: ABColombia, ‘Grassroots initiatives hold key to lasting peace in Colombia’ (30 September 2014)
[3] Frontline Defenders, ‘Colombia’
[4] False Positives (Falsos Positivos) were extrajudicial killings carried out by the military where the ‘victim is lured under false pretences by a “recruiter” to a remote location. There, the individual is killed soon after arrival by members of the military. The scene is then manipulated to make it appear as if the individual was legitimately killed in combat. The victim is commonly photographed wearing a guerrilla uniform and holding a gun or grenade. Victims are often buried anonymously in communal graves, and the killers are rewarded for the results they have achieved in the fight against the guerrillas. Explanation by Philip Alston UN Special Rapporteur.
[5] “Para quienes han tenido dudas sobre el papel del general Barrero quiero decirles que no es el director del Plan, que el PAO es responsabilidad del despacho de la ministra. La función del general es de enlace en temas de seguridad con las fuerzas militares y la policía nacional dentro de uno de los componentes de plan de acción oportuna. Aquí no tenemos estigmatizaciones con nadie, la gente tiene que ser vencida en juicio y lo importante es garantizar protección de líderes en Colombia”, dijo la ministra del Interior Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez.