COLOMBIA-VIOLENCE – TELAM Agency
At least 33 human rights defenders or social leaders in Colombia have died in the first three months of 2023, the acting deputy director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) for the Americas, Juan Pappier, reported today.
“In the first three months of 2023, we have documented 33 murders of human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia,” Pappier said in a Twitter message accompanied by fact sheets.
According to the report, 12 of those cases occurred in January, eight in February and 13 in March.
Most of the leaders were assassinated in the Pacific region, where the FARC dissidents, the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas and criminal gangs such as the Clan del Golfo operate.
Among those killed are community leaders, indigenous people, peasants, LGBTIQ+ activists, Afro-descendants and youth, as well as an official from the Ombudsman’s Office.
Source: Ambito
