The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed great concern regarding the situation in Colombia. She highlighted the strong impact of the armed conflict on indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, as well as the use of sexual violence and anti-personnel mines against civilians. The High Commissioner called on the Colombian government to better protect civilians and implement UN recommendations to respond to needs for justice and mitigate suffering. She also expressed concern for civilian populations facing armed conflicts around the world.

1. COMISIÓN COLOMBIANA DE JURISTAS
Organización no gubernamental con estatus consultivo ante la ONU
Filial de la Comisión Internacional de Juristas (Ginebra) y de la Comisión Andina de Juristas (Lima)
PERSONERÍA JURÍDICA: RESOLUCIÓN 1060, AGOSTO DE 1988 DE LA ALCALDÍA MAYOR DE BOGOTÁ
PRESS RELEASE
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed great concern
regarding the situation in Colombia
In her intervention today before the Human Rights Council in Geneva (Switzerland), the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay, expressed
that the situation in Colombia continues to be a source of great concern and indicated that
the armed conflict has generated enormous human, social, economic, and political costs.
“The lives, the security, and the property of civilians continue being the target of attacks by
all the armed groups,” expressed the High Commissioner with regard to the situation in
Colombia. Among the sources of special concern, the High Commissioner highlighted the
following: The strong impact of the armed conflict on the indigenous and Afro-Colombian
population; the sexual violence that, as war tactic, is directed toward women and girls;
forced displacement; and the anti-personnel mines placed by guerrilla groups, which
continue to take lives among the civilian population.
In the face of such a situation, the High Commissioner stated that “the government should
take all the necessary steps to protect the civilian population, mitigate its suffering, and
respond to its need for justice.” The High Commissioner welcomed the invitation that the
government has extended to several Human Rights Special Rapporteurs and Working
Groups of the United Nations Human Rights Council to visit the country, but she called on
the government to implement their recommendations in an effective manner.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights referred also to the tragic
consequences that the civilian population must endure in contexts of armed conflict around
the world, and stated that “the denial of basic human rights, as well as discriminatory
practices, are often at the root of such conflicts.”
The High Commissioner’s pronouncement is a message addressed to the Human Rights
Council, now meeting in its 11th period of sessions in Geneva, in which the highest-ranking
human rights official of the United Nations “presents some updates on topics related to
human rights and on situations of special concern,” among which she stresses especially
the situation of the civilian population in contexts of armed conflict. Thus, the High
Commissioner makes detailed mention of Colombia, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq,
the Occupied Palestine Territories, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan,
and Chad. She also expresses concern regarding the situation in post-conflict countries such
as Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Bogotá, June 4, 2009
For further information, please contact: Ana María Díaz (Cel. 3114817190).
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Email : ccj@coljuristas.org Website: www.coljuristas.org Bogotá, Colombia