UN urges Colombia to be more effective in prosecuting attacks on social leaders 

The representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, Juliette de Rivero, on Thursday called for greater coordination between state institutions to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the murders of social leaders in the country.  

"It is very important that state institutions are coordinated to effectively investigate and prosecute all cases of murders, threats and attacks against human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia," she said in a statement.  

She added that to fight against these violations "it is essential" that "each state institution fulfils its role, whether it is one of control, investigation or other, to protect rights and to clarify, prevent and punish these crimes".  

De Rivero said that the important thing is to "prevent murders, attacks and threats against human rights defenders and social leaders", regardless of the number of cases that occur.  

He recalled that these violations occur in a context of increased violence in several territories of the country, so the State must redouble its efforts to fulfil its obligation to guarantee the exercise of the defence of human rights.  

In this regard, he called on the Colombian government to advance in the dismantling of armed groups, to promote comprehensive rural reform and to ensure the full presence of the state in the territories.  

The Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz) estimates that 310 social leaders and human rights defenders were killed in 2020.  

However, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, in its latest report in December, documented 53 killings, including those of five women, and is analysing 74 more cases.