Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

Advance Edited Version

Distr.
GENERAL

A/HRC/13/22/Add.3
1 March 2010

Original: ENGLISH

Human Rights Council
Thirteenth session
Agenda item 3

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya

Addendum

Mission to Colombia
(7–18 September 2009)

A/HRC/13/22/Add.3

Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders conducted a country visit to Colombia from 7 to 18 September 2009 to assess the current situation of human rights defenders in Colombia, during which she met with senior Government officials and human rights defenders.

Following an introductory section, in section II the Special Rapporteur briefly presents the general context in which human rights defenders operate.

In section III, the Special Rapporteur details the current challenges faced by human rights defenders in Colombia in their legitimate activities. She points out the persistent insecurity faced by several categories of defenders; their stigmatization by public officials and non-State actors; their arbitrary arrest and detention, and judicial harassment against them; and raids of non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) premises and theft of information.

In section IV, the Special Rapporteur examines the State’s response to the precarious situation of defenders. She presents: the difficulties faced by the Government in adopting a national human rights action plan owing to a derailed dialogue with civil society; recent encouraging statements by the highest authorities in the country in recognizing the legitimate work of defenders; the imperfect protective measures taken by the Government for defenders; the deficiencies in the early warning system; the insufficient response to the prevailing impunity; and the preliminary action taken against the illegal intelligence activities.

in section V, the Special Rapporteur formulates her conclusions and recommendations for consideration by all stakeholders.