RIGHTS: Harsh Language for Colombia at UN Review

• by Gustavo Capdevila (geneva)
• Thursday, December 11, 2008
• Inter Press Service

The tried and true formula was followed by nearly all the government representatives who spoke at the United Nations Human Rights Council session devoted Wednesday to human rights violations in Colombia.

More than 40 speakers opened their remarks by acknowledging the efforts made by the Colombian government to guarantee respect for human rights in the country, racked by nearly half a century of civil war involving leftwing guerrillas, government forces and far-right paramilitary groups.

In their next breath, the same diplomats indicated the difficulties experienced by the Colombian authorities in putting an end to the numerous serious violations such as murders, forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and torture.

Adrien-Claude Zoller, a veteran Swiss expert and head of the non-governmental International Training Centre for Human Rights and Peace Education (CIFEDHOP) in Geneva, described to IPS the speeches heard during the U.N. Universal Periodic Review of the situation in Colombia.

In fact, no country spoke up solely to defend Colombia, Zoller said. 'None,' he repeated emphatically. As a result, the tone adopted by all of the delegations was roughly the same, he added.

This showed that every one of the speakers knew that there were serious problems with human rights in Colombia, the expert concluded.

This is the first time there has been such close agreement since the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism began to be implemented early this year. The mechanism was established by the Human Rights Council to verify U.N. member countries' observance of their obligations in the field of human rights.

'I think this novel aspect is very important,' Zoller emphasised. 'Most of the serious problems existing in Colombia were raised during the debate.'

European countries followed the pattern of recognising certain improvements in Colombia's human rights situation, before underscoring the 'persistence of serious concerns,' as the Danish delegate said.

The number of indigenous people who have been killed in Colombia is alarming, said the representative from Copenhagen, who warned that the killings have pushed several indigenous communities to the verge of disappearing.

Denmark's delegate also mentioned the widespread use of torture by the Colombian security forces, and called on Bogotá to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Canada stressed the gravity of the violations committed in Colombia, highlighting the problem of extrajudicial executions. Ireland referred to the same abuses and expressed concern that the murders are attributed to the Colombian armed forces.

Australia, in turn, reported that members of the armed forces maintain links with paramilitary groups or condone their actions.

Belgium expressed concern over Colombian government statements that cast doubt on the independence of the Supreme Court.

Spain, which had recently backed some of rightwing President Alvaro Uribe's human rights policies, distanced itself and showed concern about the turn of events in that area.

The Spanish delegation recommended that the Colombian government engage in dialogue with major sectors of civil society, with 'both sides dropping stigmatising talk and unfounded accusations.'

The Uruguayan representative recommended that the Colombian government give strict orders to the security forces to avoid designating as 'terrorists' human rights activists and members of non-governmental organisations.

The misrepresentation of activists as terrorists has been encouraged from high levels of power, with tragic results, the delegate from Montevideo said.

Zoller criticised Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos, who headed his country's delegation, for his accusation that non-governmental organisations did not want to participate in the process, 'which is not true,' he said.

There is great diversity among the members of Colombian civil society who came to Geneva to attend the session, the Swiss expert said. Furthermore, people face the risk of forced disappearance in Colombia, so 'who will guarantee that most of those who have come this year will be back next year?' he asked.

'We know the history and everyone here knows it too. That's why this is neither the time nor the place for the vice president to attack those who are present, but have no voice,' Zoller said.

The Universal Periodic Review Mechanism guidelines determine that human rights organisations can only present their complaints through reports to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, rather than directly to the working group that prepares the definitive report on each country.

The Uruguayan delegate remarked that violations of human rights and international humanitarian law persist in Colombia, and are committed by the paramilitaries, the guerrillas, and government forces.

Ayda Quilcué, a leader of the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca, a province in southwestern Colombia, told IPS that indigenous people, blacks and civil society appreciate the importance of the review carried out in Geneva. Many countries took an interest, asking questions and making recommendations, she said.

'We will be able to use these recommendations as tools for monitoring what happens within the country,' she said.

Quilcué added that she was going home happy, having seen for herself the quality of global diplomatic action, because the problems faced by civil society and indigenous people had been laid bare, 'which is important for us.'

© Inter Press Service (2008) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

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