Bärbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights, on Colombia

Following a meeting with Monseñor Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, the head of Caritas in Colombia, and representatives of the Caritas working group on Colombia, Bärbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement today (23 May 2017):

Zusatzinformationen

I am deeply concerned by the reports coming out of Colombia on the increase in politically motivated acts of violence, especially in the areas worst hit by the conflict. There are obviously forces at work here trying to intimidate committed members of civil society and hinder the success of the peace process. However, if there is to be lasting peace in Colombia, the country needs an active and committed civil society. The Colombian Government has a responsibility to step up its efforts to halt this development and to protect its citizens from violent attacks. Germany is prepared to help Colombia master this challenging task in the fragile post‑conflict phase.

Background information:

On 24 November 2016, after more than 50 years, a peace accord was concluded between the Colombian Government and the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) rebels. This agreement has been implemented since 1 December 2016. The current demobilisation of the FARC has led to a dangerous power vacuum in the areas previously controlled by the guerillas. There are a growing number of reports that other illegal armed groups (“bandas criminales” (BACRIM), paramilitaries or the ELN) are seeking to take control of these areas and are threatening activists who, for example, are championing land rights, and human rights defenders, among others. According to a report published by the office of Colombia’s ombudsman in April 2017, there were 156 murder victims from these groups in a 14‑month period between January 2016 and March 2017. In early May, President Santos made the new Vice President, Oscar Naranjo, responsible for combating the violence against human rights and social activists.

Germany has been supporting the Colombian peace process for many years, among other things within the context of civil crisis prevention, stabilisation, post‑conflict peacebuilding and mediation and, together with partners such as Caritas, is also funding humanitarian assistance projects as well as humanitarian mine and ordnance clearance projects.

from
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2017/170523_Kofler_Kolumbien.html?nn=479796