Medellin’s Municipal Committee of Human Rights on Thursday expressed concern about the increase in human rights violations this year, when announcing the results of its annual report.
According to an article in El Colombiano, the report notes an increase in homicide, displaced persons, sexual violence, and an increase in illegal armed groups.
From January to October this year, the committee has registered 1,717 homicides, compared with 830 reported in the same period last year. Official Jairo Herran Vargas attributed the increase in violence to confrontations between illegal armed groups in the city.
The report stated that this year 2,103 Medellin residents were forced to abandoned their homes due to violence, compared to 1,069 last year.
There is concern that this year homicide rates will be the highest since 2005, with over 2,000 homicides taking place in the city.