Stop Violence Against Women


Human Rights Defenders


Organización Femenina Popular

Colombia


María Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, a broadcaster and human rights defender from the Popular Women's Organization (Organización Femenina Popular, OFP), received an anonymous death threat on 21 June 2006 at the offices of Radio Uno, a regional radio station in Barrancabermeja, linked to a national radio station. She was in the middle of her daily 10 minute radio broadcasts for the OFP when the radio controller received an anonymous telephone call directed to her that said: "Tell that bitch from Mohana that we are listening to her and that she should prepare a coffin for her tongue"(1). Criminal investigations into this threat have not advanced, as the authorities claim the phone call was made from a public telephone, which cannot be traced.

This was not the first threat that she has received as a result of her human rights work with the OFP.

On 12 June 2006, the husband of Gloria Amparo Suárez, who has been a member of the OFP for 15 years and is one of the leaders of the organization, was reportedly threatened by army-backed paramilitary groups operating in Barrancabermeja. He was approached by an unidentified man who said to him: "Tell your wife that she has a month to leave Barrancabermeja or if not she will be taken, and don’t say anything, don't denounce, don't make a scandal or else you will be the dead person"(2)

According to reports, no criminal investigation has been opened into the threat against Gloria Amparo Suárez. Her security situation remains serious as she has also been reportedly followed by armed individuals when carrying out her work in poor communities in the city.

The threats against María Jackeline Rojas Castañeda and Gloria Amparo Sánchez have a similar wording to a written death threat sent to human rights defenders and social activists in Barrancabermeja, allegedly issued by army-backed paramilitaries earlier in June 2006. The threat said:

"The revolution should only be in the pages of history books not in the streets of the country. From 1 to 15 June cleansing of revolutionary informers: (Movements, associations, corporations, trade unions, organizations) so start getting ready 2 boxes 1 for the tongue and the other for yourself. Death to son-of-bitch informers in Barranca, bastard guerrillas. Organized social cleansing groups for a Barranca clean of guerrillas"(3).

The written threat followed an emailed death threat sent to several human rights organizations, including the OFP, from a group calling itself Colombia Libre de Comunistas, Colombia Free of Communists. "Colombia Libre" is the name given by the paramilitary umbrella organization Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, (AUC), United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, on its website.

The OFP works to empower women and consolidate a space where women can participate fully and freely in public life. They work for the recognition of women's rights through activism, mobilization and awareness raising. They organize street protests, cultural events, street theatre and concerts. The OFP also coordinates its work with other human rights and social organizations in Barrancabermeja in what is called the Espacio de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de Derechos Humanos, (ETTDH), Human Rights Workers Coordination. The ETTDH works to promote human rights and calls for human rights protection in the central regions surrounding the Magdalena river basin. They have been campaigning actively against the Ley de Justicia y Paz, Peace and Justice Law(4), which they feel does not recognize the rights of victims of human rights violations and does not ensure, truth, justice and reparations for such crimes.

Background information

Human rights defenders working in the city of Barrancabermeja and other parts of the department of Santander have for years been targeted for attack. Many have paid with their lives. Nevertheless, despite the risks involved, they have refused to be silenced.

According to reports, a paramilitary "death list" has been circulating in Barrancabermeja since the end of 2005. The list reportedly includes the names of many long-standing human rights defenders, trade unionists, journalists and other social and political leaders in Barrancabermeja who have spoken out over the years against paramilitary activities.

Colombia's army-backed paramilitary groups have officially been demobilising since 2003, in a government-sponsored process that was supposed to be completed in 2006. Despite this process, reports of human rights violations committed by paramilitary groups operating in coordination with the security forces continue. It appears as though paramilitary groups have not demobilized at all, but continue to operate under new names.

Those that have dared to criticize the demobilization process and challenge impunity for violations committed during the armed conflict, such as human rights defenders, have suffered widespread and persistent threats.

Working for human rights in Colombia

Human rights defenders work throughout Colombia in some of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the country. It is through their work that human rights abuses committed in Colombia come to public attention. However, local public officials, members of the security forces and paramilitaries who would rather not see human rights abuses exposed have frequently attempted to prevent such work by discrediting local activists who they allege are subversives or members of the guerrilla.

Despite repeated pledges by the Colombian authorities, attacks, threats and intimidation in the form of spurious criminal charges and legal proceedings, smear campaigns and surveillance operations against defenders continue. The aim of the attacks and intimidation seems clear - to create a climate of fear to deter human rights defenders from continuing their work. The vast majority of threats and attacks are allegedly committed by the security forces and their paramilitary allies; some abuses are also committed by the guerrilla.

Women human rights defenders

Women are working actively for the protection of human rights - including but not limited to women's rights. In so doing women human rights defenders enrich and advance protection of human rights in a totally unique way. Through their work they enhance women's access to human rights and empower women to be more visible and active in public affairs and public life.

Like their male colleagues, women face attacks, threats and other acts of intimidation against them. However, women who defend human rights face specific risks during the course of t heir human rights work. They face marginalization, prejudice, violence and threats to their human rights, safety and well-being on multiple levels: as human rights defenders; as women and as individuals who defy cultural, religious or social norms about the role of women; and as activists raising controversial issues such as sexuality, sexual orientation and reproductive rights.

By far the greatest difficulty faced by many women human rights defenders is that their work and proposals are all too often discredited or dismissed in importance, increasing their isolation and the risk of public and communtiy repudation, stigmatization, discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention.

TAKE ACTION!

Write to the Colombian authorities and the Colombian embassy in your country:

Appeals to:

President of Colombia:
Señor Presidente Alvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8, No. 7 – 26
Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 337 5890

Minister of the Interior and Justice:
Sr. Carlos Holguín Sardi
Ministro del Interior y de Justicia
Carrera 9ª No. 14 – 10
Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 560 4630

Attorney General:
Dr. Mario Germán Iguarán Arana
Fiscal General de la Nación
Diagonal 22b 52-01, Edificio C Piso 4
Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 414 9108

Copies to:

Organización Femenina Popular:
Magdalena medio, Barrancabermeja
Sede Principal Casa de la Mujer
Carrera 22 No. 52B-36
Barrio Torcoroma.




(1) "Dígale a esa perra hijoeputa de la Mohana que la estamos oyendo y que prepare un cajón para la lengua".

(2) "Dígale a su mujer que tiene un mes de plazo para irse de Barrancabermeja o sino la lleva, y no digan nada, ni denuncien, ni hagan escándalo porque sino el muerto será usted".

(3) La revolución solo debe estar en los libros de historia no en las calles del país. Del 1 al 15 de junio limpieza de sapos revolucionarios: (Movimientos, asociaciones, corporaciones, sindicatos, organizaciones) así que vayan alistando 2 cajones 1 para lengua y otro para usted. Muerte a sapos hijoeputas de barranca, guerrilleros malparidos. Grupos organizados de limpieza social por una Barranca limpia de guerrilleros.

(4) For more information on the Justice and Peace Law and the demobilization process see Colombia, Paramilitaries in Medellín: demobilization or legalization (AI index: AMR 23/019/2005).