OAS urges Colombia to release people arrested over...
Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord
Colombia’s GDP and GNI
Panama arrests US citizen suspected in Colombia of...
Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot
Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in...
Bogota
Crime and security in Bogota
Colombia recalls ambassador from Guatemala over corruption probe...
Colombia’s FARC dissidents captured 5 soldiers during ceasefire:...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
(Image: Damien Fellous / Mira-V Photojournalism)
War and peace

UN in Colombia received reports of assassinations of more than 450 social leaders

by Adriaan Alsema January 2, 2019

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that his office received reports of the killing of more than 450 social leaders in Colombia since peace was signed between the state and FARC guerrillas.

Another 85 demobilized FARC guerrillas were assassinated in the first two years of the country’s peace process, Guterres said in his quarterly report on the 10-year process.

I remain greatly concerned that attacks against social leaders and human rights defenders continued to occur with impunity during the reporting period… According to OHCHR reports, since the signing of the Peace Agreement in November 2016, 163 killings of social leaders and human rights defenders have been verified and a total of 454 cases reported.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

The UN’s top boss confirmed reports by Colombia’s ombudsman’s office and social organizations that the victims of this violence are mainly land defenders, indigenous leaders and community leaders promoting the substitution of illicit crops like coca.

Early warnings continue to highlight the risks resulting from violent actors targeting communities and leaders, including those seeking to obtain income derived from drug trafficking, mining, extortion, levies and fuel smuggling, among other things, and competing over areas used as corridors for the transport of illicit goods. Early warnings have also highlighted that the victims are typically persons involved in activities such as: defending land and natural resources; implementing parts of the Peace Agreement, in particular the coca substitution program and the formulation of rural development plans; land restitution and the return of displaced persons; defending their land against private interests; denouncing drug traffickers, illegal armed actors and the use of children and adolescents in marginalized urban areas; protesting against specific investments of public resources; and political participation.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

Guterres’ numbers did not include the killings that took place in December.

peace processsocial leaders

Trending

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in peace talks

  • Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels push ceasefire talks forward

  • Colombia’s prosecution blocks talks to dismantle paramilitary groups

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion