GENEVA / COLOMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS
10-May-2019
00:02:25
The Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville, expressed alarm at “the strikingly high number of human rights defenders being killed, harassed and threatened in Colombia, and by the fact that this terrible trend seems to be worsening.” UNTV CH
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STORY: GENEVA / COLOMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 02:25
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
TRT: 02:25
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
SHOTLIST
RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior shot, UN Palais des Nations
10 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“We are alarmed by the strikingly high number of human rights defenders being killed, harassed and threatened in Colombia, and by the fact that this terrible trend seems to be worsening. We call on the authorities to make a significant effort to confront the pattern of harassment and attacks aimed at civil society representatives and to take all necessary measures to tackle the endemic impunity around such cases.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The violations are occurring against a backdrop of stigmatization of rights defenders, especially those living in rural areas. These regions are characterised by a lack of adequate basic social services, high levels of poverty, the existence of illegal crops, the presence of unlawful armed groups and of criminal groups. And there is an urgent need to address disparities in the enjoyment of all rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights and especially in rural areas.”
7. Close up, journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“A wide range of activists have been targeted. They include community leaders, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, environmentalists, peasants, journalists, LGBTI people, and women’s rights defenders, sometimes those involved in local politics. Community leaders are particularly vulnerable and account for more than 70 percent of all recorded killings. Some of them were apparently targeted because they have been supporting the implementation of certain aspects of the Colombian peace agreement, including land restitution, victims’ rights and the illicit crop substitution programme.”
9. Close up, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“So, we are worried that, with the approach of local elections in October, the number of violent attacks may increase even further. We do acknowledge the steps taken so far by the State to improve the protection of human rights defenders - and the presence of two security officers in that major attack last week is indicative of that. And we also take note of the creation, the very recent creation of specialized judges announced by President Duque.”
11. Med shot, journalists
12. Wide shot, press briefing room
1. Exterior shot, UN Palais des Nations
10 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“We are alarmed by the strikingly high number of human rights defenders being killed, harassed and threatened in Colombia, and by the fact that this terrible trend seems to be worsening. We call on the authorities to make a significant effort to confront the pattern of harassment and attacks aimed at civil society representatives and to take all necessary measures to tackle the endemic impunity around such cases.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The violations are occurring against a backdrop of stigmatization of rights defenders, especially those living in rural areas. These regions are characterised by a lack of adequate basic social services, high levels of poverty, the existence of illegal crops, the presence of unlawful armed groups and of criminal groups. And there is an urgent need to address disparities in the enjoyment of all rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights and especially in rural areas.”
7. Close up, journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“A wide range of activists have been targeted. They include community leaders, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, environmentalists, peasants, journalists, LGBTI people, and women’s rights defenders, sometimes those involved in local politics. Community leaders are particularly vulnerable and account for more than 70 percent of all recorded killings. Some of them were apparently targeted because they have been supporting the implementation of certain aspects of the Colombian peace agreement, including land restitution, victims’ rights and the illicit crop substitution programme.”
9. Close up, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“So, we are worried that, with the approach of local elections in October, the number of violent attacks may increase even further. We do acknowledge the steps taken so far by the State to improve the protection of human rights defenders - and the presence of two security officers in that major attack last week is indicative of that. And we also take note of the creation, the very recent creation of specialized judges announced by President Duque.”
11. Med shot, journalists
12. Wide shot, press briefing room
STORYLINE
The Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville, today (10 May) expressed alarm at “the strikingly high number of human rights defenders being killed, harassed and threatened in Colombia, and by the fact that this terrible trend seems to be worsening.”
Colville called on the national authorities “to make a significant effort to confront the pattern of harassment and attacks aimed at civil society representatives and to take all necessary measures to tackle the endemic impunity around such cases.”
In just the first four months of this year, a total of 51 alleged killings of human rights defenders and activists have been reported by civil society actors and State institutions, as well as the national human rights institution.
The violations, Colville said, “are occurring against a backdrop of stigmatization of rights defenders, especially those living in rural areas.”
He said these regions “are characterised by a lack of adequate basic social services, high levels of poverty, the existence of illegal crops, the presence of unlawful armed groups and criminal groups.”
The spokesperson said “a wide range of activists have been targeted. They include community leaders, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, environmentalists, peasants, journalists, LGBTI, and women’s rights defenders, some involved in local politics.”
Community leaders, he said, “are particularly vulnerable and account for more than 70 per cent of all recorded killings,” and some of them “were apparently targeted because they have been supporting the implementation of certain aspects of the Colombian peace agreement, including land restitution, victims’ rights and the illicit crop substitution programme.”
Colville expressed concern that “with the approach of local elections in October, the number of violent attacks may increase even further.”
He acknowledged “the steps taken so far by the State to improve the protection of human rights defenders” and highlighted that two security officers provided by the National Protection Unit were injured. During the most recent attack, last week, when 20 Afro-Colombian human rights defenders – including the well-known, award-winning environmentalist and women’s rights defender, Francia Márquez – were attacked with grenades and firearms near Santander del Quilichao, in the department of Cauca.
Colville also took note “of the creation, the very recent creation of specialized judges announced by President Duque.”
He called on the authorities to redouble their efforts to expand and strengthen efforts to safeguard a free and secure environment for civic engagement and to ensure all killings, attacks and threats are properly investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Colville called on the national authorities “to make a significant effort to confront the pattern of harassment and attacks aimed at civil society representatives and to take all necessary measures to tackle the endemic impunity around such cases.”
In just the first four months of this year, a total of 51 alleged killings of human rights defenders and activists have been reported by civil society actors and State institutions, as well as the national human rights institution.
The violations, Colville said, “are occurring against a backdrop of stigmatization of rights defenders, especially those living in rural areas.”
He said these regions “are characterised by a lack of adequate basic social services, high levels of poverty, the existence of illegal crops, the presence of unlawful armed groups and criminal groups.”
The spokesperson said “a wide range of activists have been targeted. They include community leaders, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, environmentalists, peasants, journalists, LGBTI, and women’s rights defenders, some involved in local politics.”
Community leaders, he said, “are particularly vulnerable and account for more than 70 per cent of all recorded killings,” and some of them “were apparently targeted because they have been supporting the implementation of certain aspects of the Colombian peace agreement, including land restitution, victims’ rights and the illicit crop substitution programme.”
Colville expressed concern that “with the approach of local elections in October, the number of violent attacks may increase even further.”
He acknowledged “the steps taken so far by the State to improve the protection of human rights defenders” and highlighted that two security officers provided by the National Protection Unit were injured. During the most recent attack, last week, when 20 Afro-Colombian human rights defenders – including the well-known, award-winning environmentalist and women’s rights defender, Francia Márquez – were attacked with grenades and firearms near Santander del Quilichao, in the department of Cauca.
Colville also took note “of the creation, the very recent creation of specialized judges announced by President Duque.”
He called on the authorities to redouble their efforts to expand and strengthen efforts to safeguard a free and secure environment for civic engagement and to ensure all killings, attacks and threats are properly investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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