Colombia: UN and OAS experts condemn crackdown on peaceful protests, urge a thorough and impartial investigation
GENEVA/ WASHINGTON D.C.(14 May 2021) - UN and OAS human rights experts* today condemned the violent crackdown on peaceful protests in Colombia, and called on the Government to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the reported killings, sexual violence, allegations of torture, and cases of alleged arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.
“We are deeply distressed by the excessive and unlawful use of force by police and members of the ESMAD (Mobile Anti-Riot Squad) against peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists across Colombia,” the experts said.
The experts have received reports of at least 26 killings most of which being young people, 1,876 cases of police violence, 216 cases of injuries including police officers, approximately 168 disappearances, 963 alleged arbitrary detentions, at least 12 cases of sexual violence, as well as allegations of torture. Furthermore, there have been at least 69 assaults against human rights defenders.