PBI-Colombia accompanies CAHUCOPANA at #DefendamosLaVida meetings with the European Union in Colombia

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Photo: Carlos Arturo Morales Mallorga of CAHUCOPANA with members of the PBI-Colombia team and others in Bogota, July 2.

On July 1, Peace Brigades International-Colombia, Race and Equality, Protection international, the International Office of Human Rights Action Colombia (OIDHACO), and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) expressed appreciation that the European Union’s External Action Service would be participating “in the collection of inputs and information for the Human Rights Dialogue between Colombia and the European Union (EU), which will take place on 2 July 2024.”

Among the issues raised in their statement: “Victims of torture and police repression in the context of protests: Ensure that acts of intimidation, violence and torture in the context of demonstrations and protests are adequately investigated, prosecuted and punished, with priority given to the attention and full reparation of victims. And the adequate implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.”

El Espectador article

El Espectador has also provided this context: “Within the framework of the Defend Life campaign, the Embassies of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland reaffirmed their alliance to improve the protection and well-being of human rights defenders in the country. These were the main conclusions and recommendations to the National Government in the face of the panorama of violence.”

That article further explains: “In the face of the continuous attacks on social leaders in the country, the European Union, its Member States, Switzerland and Norway met last Tuesday, July 2, with the aim of advancing in actions to protect life and overcome impunity for the more than 86 murders registered in the first half of 2024.”

And it notes: “In this context, ambassadors; leaders; and agents of the Colombian Government met in six round tables to discuss security measures, impunity, good practices for companies, environmental protection and other specific issues around the defense of life. At each table, the European Embassies and representatives of the National Government were able to listen to the recommendations of human rights defenders from regions.”

CAHUCOPANA on social media

On July 2, CAHUCOPANA posted: “Since 2019, the European Union in Colombia headed by its Ambassador, has been doing articulated work with various embassies and institutions of the National Government, promoting human rights in the territories where the dynamics of armed conflict are presented.”

Then on July 3, CAHUCOPANA posted: “Today in Bogota, different leadership at the national level met at the European Union in Colombia office premises. In the framework of the campaign #DefendamosLaVida [#DefendLife] worked on 6 tables and different topics with a territorial approach, with emphasis on the problems that affect at the collective and individual level, the tenure of the earth, peace and justice. These were the topics addressed in this space, remember that Cahucopana defends life.”

Another European initiative

And on July 5, as part of another initiative, CAHUCOPANA shared this post from Espacio de Cooperación para La Paz (Cooperation Space for Peace) that highlights: “International civil society organizations that are part of the European Union in Colombia meeting in #Barrancabermeja with territorial leadership and Mr. Gilles Bertrand – EU Ambassador in Colombia. Meeting to update context, agenda advance and commitments in favor of the raised alerts in the report: ‘Magdalena Medio: Humanitarian and Human Rights Alert’ 2023-2024. During the meeting, tributes were performed to female leaders who recently and unfortunately lost their lives.”

We continue to follow this.

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project has accompanied the Humanitarian Action Corporation for Coexistence and Peace in Northeast Antioquia (CAHUCOPANA) since 2013.


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