Since January 16, 2025, armed violence has erupted in the Catatumbo region (north-east Colombia) due to confrontations between the armed groups, National Liberation Army (ELN in Spanish) and General Staff of Blocks and Front (EMBF in Spanish), a dissident group of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP in Spanish), resulting in reports of killings of dozens of civilians, massive forced displacements of thousands of people, and heightened risks of forced confinements, more killings, and enforced disappearances. We call on the Colombian authorities to urgently take all necessary measures to protect civilians in the Catatumbo region, including human rights defenders.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: February 3, 2025
Dear Mr. President,
I’m writing to express my deep concern with the risk faced to the life, safety, and security of the civilian population in the Catatumbo region of Colombia, including human rights defenders.
Since January 16, 2025, armed violence in the Catatumbo region has been reported including the killing of civilians and heightened risks of forced massive displacements, confinements, and enforced disappearances. Civil society organizations in the region are calling for the armed groups to respect the life and safety of the civilian population and the adoption of measures to protect them.
Amnesty International has observed and reported on the situation of violence and hostile environment suffered by human rights defenders and civil society organizations in Colombia. Today, the civilian population in the Catatumbo region again faces the impacts of armed violence on their human rights.
I urge you to exercise the utmost diligence in adopting measures to protect them through mechanisms of prevention and collective protection, and to guarantee their safety, including that of human rights defenders, social leaders, and their communities.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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