Colombia: Experts gravely concerned by lack of truth, justice and accountability for killings and other human rights violations during 2021 National Strike

GENEVA – Three years on from Colombia’s deadly national strike, independent UN experts* say there remains an urgent need to establish truth, justice and accountability for killings and other human rights violations resulting from excessive police against demonstrators and their failure to prevent violence and further deprivation of life caused by anti-strike agitators. The experts issued the following statement:

“Three years after 2021 events, we find it unacceptable that the competent authorities have not progressed in effective investigations, in line with international standards, to uncover the facts and hold perpetrators accountable. This situation allows for impunity and puts victims and their families at increased risk of threats against their life and safety.

We recognise the efforts of the current Government in relation to cases of killings and other human rights violations committed against demonstrators during the National Strike, such as the installation of the Permanent Inter-institutional Technical Table to address cases of human rights violations in contexts of social protests. The recently adopted directive of the National Prosecutor's Office for the recognition, guarantee and protection of the right to protest is an indisputable step along the path to justice.

While we acknowledge these positive steps, the stagnation of the work of the Technical Table, failures in the regulation of the use of less lethal weapons in the context of protests, the delay in the changes of the Prosecutor’s framework, and the delay in the justice process could amount to a denial of justice.

The lack of progress in investigations into the 16 reported cases of unlawful killings of protesters in the context of the 2021 protests is deeply concerning and raises questions about their effectiveness. Attempts to transfer judicial proceedings to military courts and reported incidents of threats and intimidation against participants in judicial processes, including victims, witnesses, lawyers, families, human rights defenders, and civil society members are also very troubling.

The State must ensure that these investigations are carried out effectively, without further delays, in order to prosecute and punish those responsible for such violations and that measures are taken to prevent recurrence. The lack of conclusive investigations hinders accountability and has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in the country.

After three years, it is imperative that competent authorities expedite investigations of the possible cases of arbitrary deprivation of life that occurred in Siloé, in Cali, and across Colombia during the National Strike. We also urge that they investigate the acts of threats and harassment that have allegedly occurred since so that these cases do not remain in impunity and to guarantee the families’ rights to truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. The lack of accountability in these cases also strongly increases the risks for the safety of victims’ families.

We urge the competent authorities to bring perpetrators to justice and to undertake in-depth reform of the security sector to ensure accountability and non-repetition for such violations.”

The experts sent a letter to the Government to raise their concerns.