Colombian ombudsmen are increasingly victim of death threats, chairman
of the national ombudsmen federation Lourdes Insignares said Sunday.
According to Insignares, 119 ombudsmen have received death threats over the past three months and that the frequency of threats is increasing and the Government is doing too little to protect the human rights defenders.
“Two months ago Fernando Navarro, ombudsman of the Sabanagrande municipality in the Atlántico department was threatened and forced to abandon his duties. Fernando still has not received protection,” Insignares told Radio Caracol.
According to the chairman, the insecurity for ombudsmen is a serious problem in the whole country. “In many regions ombudsmen have not received police protection, so far 119 officials received threats,” she said.
The ombudsmen will meet in the norther Colombian town of Sincelejo this week to discuss the problem and find solutions.