II. INTRODUCTION

5. The present report contains an analysis of progress made by the Government of Colombia in implementing recommendations made by the former Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions following his visit to the country from 8-18 June 2009 (A/HRC/14/24/Add.2). During his visit, the Special Rapporteur documented killings by security officers, guerrillas, paramilitaries and illegal armed groups, and examined the effectiveness of the criminal, civil and military justice systems in relation to the killings. He further addressed the situation of especially vulnerable groups, including human rights defenders, trade unionists, women, gay, lesbian and transgender activists, and Afro-Colombia and indigenous communities, and highlighted the need for strengthened institutional capacity and reform.

VI. ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE GROUPS

55. In the mission report, the Special Rapporteur noted that vulnerable groups were disproportionately killed and threatened by State forces, paramilitaries and IAGs. The targets of killings included human rights defenders, indigenous persons and Afro-Colombians, trade unionists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and persons with physical or mental disabilities. The Special Rapporteur observed that human rights defenders were occasionally accused by Government officials of terrorism and undermining security policies and that those accusations placed them at risk.

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

76. The Special Rapporteur urges the State to significantly strengthen efforts to establish accountability for extrajudicial executions, ensure the effective protection of victims and witnesses and, through consultations with affected communities, take preventive protection measures for vulnerable groups. The behaviour aimed at discouraging human rights defenders and victims seeking justice is of serious concern.

Link to full text of the report:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session20/A-HRC-20-22-Add2_en.pdf