UN Rapporteur alerted Colombia to the murder of NASA indigenous people and the forced recruitment of children

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Mary Lawlor, called from Geneva, Switzerland, to investigate cases of threats and killings of social leaders in Colombia, to promote an effective prevention policy. In addition to the growing number of “children and adolescents recruited by non-State armed groups”.

According to Lawlor, “The increase in threats against human rights defenders in Colombia, including those that protect the rights of indigenous peoples, the environment, and the implementation of the peace agreement, is having a frightening effect on civil society and the legitimate work done by people women human rights defenders,” he said.

He also stated that they had information that boys and girls were being recruited in some areas of the country.

One of those he named in the report was the last assault that occurred on January 24, when José Albeiro Camayo Güetio was killed in the presence of his 13-year-old son, allegedly by members of a non-state armed group that intends to exercise control over the Las Delicias indigenous reservation, within the municipality of Buenos Aires, in the department of Cauca.

Breiner David Cucuñame López and Guillermo Chicarme Ipia, were killed, allegedly by members of the same group, while doing protection and defense work.

Faced with this situation, the United Nations expert asked the Colombian state to “effectively investigate these cases” as well as to dismantle the criminal groups that are behind the attacks against the Nasa people. It also “strengthen the strategies of self-protection of that community”.

The National Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphatically condemned the various homicides of the indigenous people of the Nasa community in the department of Cauca. Faced with this situation, the government has indicated that it rejects any type of violent action that directly damages and violates the rights of indigenous communities, since it is emphasized that they are protected by the State, defining that they are social niches are guaranteed thanks to institutional efforts. Among the murders highlighted in this statement is that of the young environmentalist Breiner David Cucuñame López, in the municipality of Buenos Aires, Cauca.

The Foreign Ministry points out that all indigenous peoples have the support of constitutional recognition and protection, this in order to guarantee their mobility and presence in the territory, a situation protected by the rights established in the Political Constitution of Colombia, bearing in mind that: “Colombia recognizes and protects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the nation as a whole”, according to article seven of the country's magna carta.

In the statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Colombian State strongly, firmly and unequivocally rejects any act of violence against defenders, youth and social and environmental leaders. The Government emphasizes that indigenous peoples and communities enjoy constitutional protection and recognition and reiterates that ensuring the effective enjoyment of their rights is a priority subject supported by many institutional efforts.” .

The National Government indicates that they have carried out a timely mobilization for the attention of these crimes, through the judicial authorities and investigative bodies that have arrived in the territory, however, the call for attention is made and the Prosecutor's Office is requested to assume the investigation of these incidents with high priority, since are constantly violating these communities.

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