Photo: Rocio Torres Bobadilla has faced threats and intimidation for her work with the Colombian mine workers union Sintracarbón.
Peace Brigades International-Canada is studying the just-released report by the Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRC) report titled: Navigating a global crossroads: Human rights defenders and business in 2025.
It indicates that there were 42 attacks against unions and 38 attacks against workers.
We note that at least three attacks against unions are listed in the BHRC database as happening in Colombia and Guatemala.
Colombia
Silvio Mendoza – In June 2025, human rights defender Silvio Mendoza, member of the labour union Sintracarbón received threats. Silvio is an active leader of the union and involved in proposals for a more just worker-led energy transition. The threats began after Sintracarbón filed a request with the Labour Ministry calling for the suspension of the collective dismissal of some 300 employees at Prodeco and Carbones de La Jagua (CDJ), subsidiaries of Glencore. This attack is part of broader pattern of intimidation against union leaders in Colombia.
Rocío Torres Bobadilla – In March 2025, human rights defender Rocío Torres Bobadilla, a Colombian environmental and human rights lawyer, faced threats and intimidation. The labour union Sintracarbón, which she advises, filed a request with the Labour Ministry calling for the suspension of the collective dismissal of approximately 300 employees at Prodeco and Carbones de La Jagua (CDJ), subsidiaries of Glencore.
We further note that Bobadilla worked for the PBI-accompanied José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CAJAR) from 2004 to 2008. And we additionally note that Rosa Maria Mateus Parra from CAJAR has previously accompanied Aldo Amaya the General Secretary of Sintracarbon.
Guatemala
Sindicato de Trabajadores Bananeros de Escuintla (SITRABE) – Since June 2025, members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores Bananeros de Escuintla (SITRABE), a banana workers’ union at the Frutera del Pacífico plantations, part of the Agroamérica group, have allegedly faced persistent harassment including unjustified dismissals, arbitrary transfers, intimidation, surveillance, increased work targets as punishment, and offers of money or promotions aimed at dismantling the union.
ITUC Global Rights Index report
We will further correlate this data with the 2026 13th edition of the Global Rights Index of The World’s Worst Countries for Workers produced by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The 2025 edition can be read here. We expect the 2026 edition to be released in early June 2026.
Honduras
In 2026, we are notably following the attack against members of the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) in Honduras.
The Center for the Study of Democracy (CESPAD) has documented: “On April 9, 2026, police and military forces carried out the eviction of 39 peasant families in the community of San Nicolás, Comayagua. Peasant organizations denounced the disproportionate deployment of security forces, including military equipment, as well as the burning of crops and the arrest of 17 people.”
The CNTC is affiliated with the Unified Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) which in turn is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), along with 150+ labour organizations including the Canadian Labour Congress.
Peace Brigades International has accompanied the CNTC since May 2018.
