Human Rights

Human rights have become a causality of Colombia’s ongoing internal armed conflict. The U.S. State Department’s Colombia Country Report 2005 enumerates a list of human rights violations reported in Colombia. These include: extrajudicial killings, military collaboration with paramilitary groups, torture, overcrowded prisons, arbitrary arrest, impunity, harassment and intimidation of journalists, internal displacement, corruption, sexual exploitation of women and children, and illegal child labor. Those individuals and organizations daring to speak out against these abuses often suffer from harassment, threats and even death .

Since 2003, paramilitary groups who are responsible for the majority of human rights violations in Colombia, have been involved in a government-sponsored “demobilization” process. Following this, the Colombian state has noted certain improvements in human rights – such as a fall in the nation’s homicide rate and decreased kidnappings. Nonetheless, Colombia still continues to face the most dire human rights situation in the Western Hemisphere including the world’s second highest number of internal refugees. Reports of extra-judicial executions are increasing as is the unearthing of mass graves. Human rights defenders continue to face persecution by the Colombian state and the country’s impunity rate is over 98%. Victims of violence still have little access to a the country’s justice system. To change this, it is essential that the international community pressure, as well as assist the Colombian government, in efforts to eliminate impunity, protect victims of violence, ensure the safe return of displaced communities to their land and the continued oversight of actions carried out by Colombia’s armed forces.

A gay pride flag flies in Bogota's Plaza Simon Bolivar. Photo courtesy of Proyecto Colombia Diversa.

The U.S. Office on Colombia is an independent non-profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, that seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia.