Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

October 2010

In our latest report ABColombia invites you to find out more about the situation faced by Colombia’s 102 indigenous peoples who are increasingly bearing the cost of the country’s ongoing armed conflict.

Colombia is a country rich in cultural diversity with 1.4 million indigenous people maintaining strong cultural, economic and spiritual ties to their land. 

The intensity of Colombia’s armed conflict in their territories and economic interests vying for geostrategic and economic control has forced thousands of indigenous people out of their territories.

Their refusal to take sides in Colombia’s longstanding internal conflict has led to indigenous peoples being accused by all parties in the conflict of ‘siding with the enemy’, thus making them the target for violent abuses and killings by all armed groups. 

In 2009, the number of killings of indigenous people rose by 63 per cent compared to 2008.

Access the full report Caught in the Crossfire: Colombia’s Indigenous Peoples

or just the Executive Summary and Recommendations (6 pages)

In March 2010, ABColombia hosted a visit to London by Luis Fernando Arias, a Kankuamo indigenous representative from the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia (ONIC), and Neida Yepes, a Sikuani indigenous representative and member of ONIC’s national Council of Women. 

Luis Fernando and Neida spoke at two public events to lauch ’Palabra dulce, aire de vida’ (Sweet words, breath of life) - Campaign for the Survival of Indigenous peoples at risk of Extinction in Colombia. 

Read more about these events and download the ONIC report ’’Palabra dulce, aire de vida" Forjando Caminos para la Pervivencia de los Pueblos Indígenas en Riesgo de Extinción en Colombia.

http://www.abcolombia.org.uk/subpag...;mainid=23