Indepaz records 159 social leaders human rights defenders assassinated in Colombia during 2021
United Nations, December 23 (RHC)-- The UN Office for Human Rights in Colombia reports that at least 73 human rights defenders were killed in the country between January and November 2021.
"From January 1st to November 30, 2021, the UN Human Rights Office learned of 191 allegations of killings of human rights defenders. Of these, it has verified 73 cases, 35 cases are in the process of verification and 83 cases are inconclusive," the agency detailed in its latest report.
Of the 66 defenders murdered, the highest number was registered in the department of Valle del Cauca with 31, of which 22 occurred in its capital, Cali, which was the center of the protests against the economic and social agenda of President Iván Duque.
It was followed by the departments of Cauca (11), Antioquia (six), Cundinamarca (five), Norte de Santander (four), Chocó (three) and Santander (two). The remaining cases were reported in Arauca, Caldas, Caquetá, Córdoba, Huila, La Guajira, Meta, Putumayo, Risaralda, Nariño and Tolima.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (Indepaz) registers 159 social leaders human rights defenders murdered in the same period of this year 2021. Similarly, the Ombudsman's Office registers 130 social leaders and human rights defenders murdered in the country during the same period.
Although the figure is lower than the 182 committed in the same period of 2020, human rights defenders and social leaders face serious dangers to their lives in this South American nation.
