The government of President Abelardo de la Espriella pulled Colombia out of the international Equal Rights Coalition, which promotes the rights of sexual and gender minorities around the world.
The Foreign Ministry announced its departure from the coalition in a letter addressed to the organization of which Colombia was co-president until February next year.
According to Caribe Afirmativa, a gay rights NGO that was part of the international initiative, warned that the decision was “a serious setback in foreign policy and commitments to LGBTIQ+ rights.”
We also view this action as a snub to the international community, a break from the leadership role Colombia had established, and an unequivocal political signal regarding the place the current government is willing to grant to the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
Caribe Afirmativa
De la Espriella has appointed multiple prominent far-right figures in his government and has vowed to wage a “Culture War” against what it considers “gender ideology.”
On top of this, De la Espriella and multiple of his cabinet members oppose the right of gay couples to adopt children and reportedly sacked the newly appointed planning chief because he and his gay partner had adopted a child.
