Urgent Action: ORGANIZATIONS NEED PROTECTION AGAINST THREATS (Colombia 12.24)

On February 1, a “public statement” was issued on behalf of the “High Command of the Magdalena Medio Block” of the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, threatening the lives of members of human rights, territory, land, and environmental defense organizations in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia, including CREDHOS and FEDEPESAN. In January, another threat was issued, this time on behalf of the “Magdalena Medio Block of the FARC”, threatening the president of CREDHOS, among other human rights defenders. We call on the Colombian state institutions to provide timely and comprehensive protection to the threatened organizations. 

take action:

• 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.
• Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 12.24. 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.

contact information:

sample letter:

Dear Minister,

I am concerned about the security situation of human rights, territory, land, and environmental defenders in Colombia, particularly those affiliated with the organizations Federación de Pescadores Artesanales Ambientalistas y Turísticos del Departamento de Santander – FEDEPESAN and Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos – CREDHOS, located in the city of Barrancabermeja. We are deeply troubled to see that these organizations have received direct threats from armed groups operating in this region of the country, being declared a “military objective”, and stigmatized as collaborators with other criminal groups.

Amnesty International has documented the human rights defense work and the risk situation of these organizations since 2020. Despite  public appeals, including both in face-to-face meetings with authorities and through actions on social and digital platforms, these individuals and  communities continue to be attacked for defending their rights.

I urge you to exercise diligence in fulfilling the Ministry of the Interior’s duty to coordinate actions aimed at the comprehensive protection of individuals and organizations defending human rights. This includes the implementation of the collective protection policy established in the Decree 660 of 2018, the establishment of spaces for interinstitutional coordination and collaboration with civil society, coordination with local authorities responsible for emergency response and providing effective protection routes, and collaboration with other state agencies for a comprehensive state response.

Yours sincerely,   

[YOUR NAME}

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