Human rights advisor visits demobilized prisoners

The Organization of American States’ (OAS) newly appointed human rights advisor to Colombia interviewed demobilized paramilitary leaders and other detainees at Itagui prison Friday, reported Caracol Radio.

Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon met with former paramilitary leaders and other demobilized detainees at the maximum security prison south of Medellin, in the Colombian department of Antioquia.

According to Garzon, efforts must be made to fully integrate former paramilitary members back into the justice and peace process, to ensure the credibility of the process as a whole.

The visit to Itagui is part of the advisor’s tour to several Colombian cities to assess the application of the Justice and Peace Law. Garzon met with key city government officials and the municipal government secretary Thursday in Medellin to discuss victims assistance programs.

A former judge at the National Court of Spain, Garzon recently served as an advisor to the International Criminal Court. He was appointed by the OAS in accordance with its mission to monitor human rights issues and the paramilitary demobilization process.

The advisor is expected to continue his tour with an appearance in Medellin Friday afternoon with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for the public enactment of the Citizen Security Law.

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