Human rights in Colombia
13.10.2008
WRITTEN QUESTION E-5704/08
by Patrick Gaubert (PPE‑DE)
to the Council
Although the Colombian authorities have put out some positive figures, and despite their desire to resolve the country’s problems, the human rights situation remains problematic.
Over and above the risks run by human rights advocates and unionists in Colombia, certain recent developments seem to indicate a deteriorating trend:
- —on the one hand, the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, with the figures rising; more than 260 000 people were affected in the first few months of 2008 alone, according to the NGO Codhes;
- —on the other hand, allegations of continued extrajudicial killings by the army, particularly following the discovery of 23 bodies in Santander province last September.
Many other abuses continue to be committed on a daily basis in this country, by both guerrilla groups and paramilitaries.
In view of this situation, and of the European Union’s human rights policy vis-à-vis third countries, is the Council planning any specific monitoring of the situation, in addition to what is already being done at local and multilateral level, in particular by means of a structured dialogue with Colombia on human rights?
OJ C 316, 23/12/2009