Colombia: Whether family or friends of human rights activists who have fled the country have been targeted by rebel groups, paramilitaries or the government in order to locate the activists (1999 to September 2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 3 October 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COL39283.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Colombia: Whether family or friends of human rights activists who have fled the country have been targeted by rebel groups, paramilitaries or the government in order to locate the activists (1999 to September 2002), 3 October 2002, COL39283.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d762a.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports on whether family or friends of human rights activists who have fled the country are being targeted by rebel groups, paramilitaries or the government in order to locate the activists could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, while not specifying whether the family members were asked by the paramilitary group where the human rights activist was located, Amnesty International reports in a 30 November 2001 urgent action that Leonardo Díaz Becerra, the husband of the sister of María Eugenia Cárdenas, a human rights defender of the Riosucio-Caldas branch of the Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos (ASFADDES), was reportedly killed by the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC). Amnesty International adds that Díaz's wife, Ana Rubiela Cárdenas, and their children were also threatened with their lives when the AUC broke into their home (AI 30 Nov. 2001).
Attempts to contact the Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos (ASFADDES) in Bogotá were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response.
More generally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states in its September 2002 report entitled International Protection Considerations Regarding Colombian Asylum-Seekers and Refugees that in the last five years, at least 48 human rights defenders have been killed or have disappeared, and that many others have been forced to leave the country (14). Most violations of human rights against the activists, including threats, harassment, disappearances, killings, and forced migration, are carried out by paramilitary groups (UNHCR Sept. 2002, 14). While the government does not usually intervene adversely in the work of human rights organizations, Country Reports 2001 reported cases of state security forces threatening human rights defenders (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 30 November 2001. "Urgent Action: Colombia: Fear for Safety." (AMR 23/120/2001) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). September 2002. International Protection Considerations Regarding Colombian Asylum-Seekers and Refugees. Additional Sources Consulted
Country Report on Human Rights Practices. 1999-2001.
IRB Databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
World News Connection (WNC)
Two oral sources did not provide information on the requested subject.
Internet sites, including:
Amnesty International
BBC
Colombia Human Rights Network
Colombia Office for the UNCHR
Derechos Human Rights
Equipo Nizkor
El Espectador [Bogotá]
Human Rights Watch
Peace Brigades International
El Tiempo [Bogotá]. Search engine.
World Organization Against Torture
Search engines:
AlltheWeb.com
Google
