IACHR Announces On-Site Visit to Colombia

April 3, 2024

Washington, D.C. — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will conduct an official visit to Colombia from April 15 to 19, 2024, at the invitation of the State. This will be its first visit to the country since 2012.

The purpose of the visit is to observe the impact of different forms of violence on the human rights situation in Colombia, paying particular attention to the ethnic-racial and gender dimensions. To this end, the visit will have two main focuses: a) the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and b) citizen security, looking at the different ways in which violence is manifested and how the State is responding to this problem.

The delegation carrying out the visit will be led by the President of the IACHR, Commissioner Roberta Clark; the Second Vice-President and Rapporteur for Colombia, José Luis Caballero; Commissioners Stuardo Ralón, Arif Bulkan, Andrea Pochak, and Gloria De Mees, and the Executive Secretary, Tania Reneaum; the Deputy Executive Secretary, María Claudia Pulido; the Chief of Staff, Patricia Colchero, and specialists from the Executive Secretariat. The delegation will also include the Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca, and on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Javier Palummo.

The delegation plans to visit Bogotá and the departments of Antioquia, Cauca, Chocó, La Guajira, Magdalena, Nariño, Putumayo, and Valle del Cauca. In these locations, it will hold interviews with authorities from the different branches of government and meetings to listen to the broadest possible range of voices representing Colombian society. These will include civil society organizations, activists, defenders, social and community leaders, academics, and members of trade unions, business associations, and political parties. By holding these forums, the IACHR seeks to capture the full range of perspectives and experiences regarding the human rights situation in Colombia, thus facilitating a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and progress made in this area.

The IACHR will present its preliminary observations at a press conference for journalists and the media at the end of the visit, on Friday, April 19. The exact time and location will be announced in due course.

The IACHR will provide information on how to participate in sessions shortly. Those wishing to provide information should write to CIDHDenuncias@oas.org with the words "IACHR Visit Colombia 2024" in the subject line. Any additional requests regarding Precautionary Measures or cases brought before the Inter-American System should be sent through the online portal IACHR.org/Portal.

The IACHR appreciates the Colombian State's invitation to carry out this visit, its openness in this regard, and the logistical assistance it will provide. Through these actions, the State is reaffirming its commitment to international scrutiny and the protection of human rights.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 066/24

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