Colombia

Franciscans International calls for increased international attention to the deteriorating situation for human rights in Colombia.

Franciscans International is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Colombia and the degeneration of democratic foundations and the rule of law.

We are alarmed that, in extending Law 418 (1997), which allowed negotiations with armed groups having a political character, the Colombian Congress removed the latter condition, thus permitting negotiations with paramilitary groups who are responsible for the majority of the human rights violations and attacks against the civilian population. In addition, this law will now allow the possibility of general pardon, thus violating the right to justice as well as to adequate reparation and sufficient compensation for the victims.

We will call upon the Commission:

1. to encourage the Colombian government to issue a standing invitation to all the CHR thematic special procedures and to extend full cooperation and access to places and persons;
2. to request to the Office of the High Commissioner to present an interim report on the human rights situation in Colombia and the state of compliance of its recommendations to the General Assembly.

We will also call upon the Commission to urge the Colombian government:

1. to fulfil the recommendations previously made by all the UN bodies that examined the human rights situation in Colombia, in particular those contained in Ms. Jilani’s and Mr. Deng’s reports respectively regarding human rights defenders and internally displaced persons;
2. to find a negotiated political solution to the conflict fully respecting human rights standards, in particular those of the victims;
3. to promote the respect of humanitarian norms;
4. to refrain from an inappropriate use of state of emergency measures;
5. to dismantle and eradicate paramilitary groups, to break the link with State officials and to bring to justice their members and collaborators.