Organización Femenina Popular
Colombia
One of the women’s centers in Barrancabermeja run by the Popular Women’s Organization (OFP). © AI.
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Yolanda Becerra, President of the Organización Femenina Popular (Popular Women’s Organization, OFP) in Colombia, was assaulted in her home in Barrancabermeja on 4 November 2007. Members of her family have been harassed and threatened as well. Prior to this, on 22 October, Becerra sent a letter to Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos, reporting a written death threat that OFP had received on 7 July 2007 from the Aguilas Negras paramilitary group. There is no information regarding any response from Colombian authorities to this letter.
Although Colombia’s army-backed paramilitary groups have supposedly demobilized, members of the OFP, an organization that works to empower women, have received death threats from these groups. Recently, Yolanda Becerra and some members of her family were forced to relocate to another city for safety reasons. Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of Yolanda Becerra and other human rights defenders in Barrancabermeja.
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 demobilizing 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 community reputation, stigmatization, discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention.
Please send appeals immediately to:
President of the Republic Señor Presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez Presidente de la República, Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-2, Bogotá, Colombia
Dear President Uribe,
I am writing to you to express concern for the safety of Yolanda Becerra, President of Organización Femenina Popular, her family, and other OFP activists. Becerra and her family received death threats on 4 November 2007, when two men assaulted Becerra in her home. Prior to this, on 7 July 2007, members of OFP received a signed death threat in their office.
I urge you to take effective action, deemed appropriate by Yolanda Becerra, her family and other members of OFP to protect them and ensure that OFP can continue its important work defending human rights. The government must conduct a full and impartial investigation into both the November and July threats, make the findings public, and bring all those responsible to justice. Furthermore, Colombian authorities need to take decisive action to confront and dismantle the paramilitary groups that continue to operate in the region.
The Colombian government is obligated to protect human rights defenders as laid out in the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and in the Organization of American States Human Rights Defenders in the Americas resolutions.
Sincerely,
