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> Round table Colombia. Human Rights Defenders : the "collateral (...) (http://lipietz.net/?article2189)
1er avril 2008 Parlement européen (Bruxelles) Round table Colombia. Human Rights Defenders : the "collateral damage"
Background In a context of increasing internal armed conflict, civil population is currently attacked by all parties to the conflict : paramilitary groups, official security forces and guerrilla groups. After the killing of two top leaders of the FARC, the governmental forces are increasing their attacks against the rebel group, in several regions of Colombia. Possibilities for peace talks remained behind, while enforced displacements are rising up all over the country as a consequence of the fighting. The military offensive is also putting in danger the FARC hostages’ lives. The Colombian society rejected the FARC violence, especially the taking of hostages through a worldwide and massive demonstration (4 February). Several members of the European Parliament joined the march in Bogota, a delegation of the European Parliament visited Colombia (3-8 February 2008). On 6 March, a similar initiative took place in more than 100 cities in Colombia and all over the world, in favor of the victims of crimes committed by paramilitary groups and state officials. A group of 17 Members of the European Parliament supported the initiative and asked for guarantees for the organizers’ security. Mme Flautre and M. Lipietz, on behalf of the Subcommittee and the Delegation for relations with countries of the Andean Community, asked the Colombian authorities to provide security for the organizers of the march. Nonetheless, in the days prior to the 6 March demonstration and in the days thereafter, several human rights defenders and trade unionists were assassinated. On March 13, many human rights defenders and organizations were threatened to death for their participation in the demonstration, by the newly called "New Generation" and "Black Eagles" paramilitary groups, especially those operating in Bogota. As well as the neighborhood diplomatic relations and the hostages crisis, the situation of HR Defenders worsens when war prevails on dialogue, disregarding international law. They need international support and vigilance to continue their work. The roundtable discussion will thus focus, among others, on the situation of human rights defenders and related issues, such as extrajudicial executions and displacements, the independence of the judiciary as well as the situation of the hostages. The Roundtable At the meeting, an introduction will be provided by Emmanuel Raison, representative of OIDH-ACO, International office for Human Rights – Action on Colombia, European network based in Brussels. The speakers will be :
Venue : European Parliament ASP 1G2 Sur le Web : OIDH-ACO Événements associés
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