• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Human Rights Organization Threatened (Colombia: UA 143.19)

December 12, 2019

Since the beginning of November, members of dhColombia have been surveilled by unknown men outside their homes and office. dhColombia is an advocacy organization that provides legal support to victims of human rights violations and seeks accountability from prominent military members, public forces and multinationals. In August, a member of dhColombia faced communication espionage, theft of sensitive information and death threats. On 4 October, dhColombia requested protection measures from the National Protection Unit (UNP) and has yet to receive a response. We are urging the UNP to grant dhColombia members the protection measures they requested.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 143.19. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
Mr. Pablo Elías González Monguí Director of the National Unit of Protection Carrera 63 # 14 – 97 Bogotá D.C., Colombia. Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Ambassador Francisco Santos Embassy of Colombia 1724 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036 Phone: 202 387 8338 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ColombiaEmbUSA @PachoSantosC Facebook: @ColombiaEmbassyUS Salutation: Dear Ambassador

Dear Mr. González, I am concerned about the situation of dhColombia staff members. They are an interdisciplinary group that supports individual and collective victims of human rights violations by providing them legal representation and advocacy. Since August, dhColombia staff members faced continued surveillance from unknown persons near their office and homes, communications espionage and sensitive information theft. On 4 October they requested protection measures from your institution and have yet to receive a response. The work of organizations such as dhColombia is essential for the promotion and protection of human rights in Colombia. Therefore, I urge you to grant dhColombia the protection measures they requested: One Vehicle, two persons for personal protection and a protection barrier for the office headquarters. Yours sincerely, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES