E/CN.4/1995/111
page 39
situation. It is clear that the Government will encounter resistance from
various powerful quarters defending their interests. The Special Rapporteurs
believe that the international community should support the Government’s
efforts to translate its expressed political willingness into practice. The
advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Centre for Human
Rights, under the guidance of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, should
consider any request from the Government of Colombia to help it to put the
above recommendations into effect. The involvement in this process of the
United Nations Development Programme (which already provides assistance to the
Government on human rights issues) would be welcome. In this context, the
Special Rapporteurs wish to emphasize the importance of the role of
non-governmental human rights organizations and the need to strengthen them
and provide them with adequate protection. Their participation in human
rights assistance programmes is essential.
132. The Commission on Human Rights should keep the human rights situation in
Colombia under particular close scrutiny, with a view to the appointment,
unless the situation improves radically in the near future, of a Special
Rapporteur who could ensure permanent monitoring of and reporting on the human
rights situation and who could cooperate closely with the technical assistance
programme.
Notes
1/ See the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. P. Kooijmans
(E/CN.4/1988/17/Add.1, paras. 8-12).
2/
E/CN.4/1989/18/Add.1.
3/ "Paramilitarism" is a term widely used to refer to the activities of
the groups described in paragraphs 36-40. The authorities, however, including
the President of the Republic, more often refer to them as "private justice
groups".
4/
E/CN.4/1990/22/Add.1, paragraph 5.
5/ The denomination "militias" is used for armed wings of the guerrilla
groups operating mainly in urban areas.
6/ During their mission, the Special Rapporteurs were repeatedly told
that incidents of torture were often not denounced, particularly when
preceding enforced disappearances or extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions. It may therefore be presumed that its incidence is much higher
than the figures published by Justicia y Paz.
7/ See report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances (E/CN.4/1995/36), paragraphs 126-136.
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