Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

European Parliament, Brussels, 17 and 18 April 2007

12 years on from the first International Conference, we wish to register our deep concern at the fact that the Colombian human rights crisis continues to be one of the most serious in the world. The continual grave and systematic mass human rights violations and the impunity to which they are subject, not only costs human lives, but also threatens the viability of a social state based on the rule of law, seriously impedes the building of a democratic regime, and creates difficulties in overcoming the obstacles created by an unequal and exclusive society. The continuance of an ever-worsening internal armed conflict intensifies the human rights crisis because it mainly affects the civil population. Furthermore, paramilitarism represents a serious threat to democracy in Colombia.

Extract on Human Rights Defenders

We declare our commitment to the development and consolidation of democracy in Colombia. We therefore demand from the Colombian government respect and guarantees for the rights of human rights defenders, the provision of guarantees to the members of the political opposition, and that it ensures the exercise of the liberties of trades unions. We invite the international community to demand compliance with these obligations and ensure that democratic rights can be realised.