E/CN.4/1995/111 page 4 departments of Norte de Santander, Arauca and Valle del Cauca, the regional representatives of the Procuraduría, the Fiscalía and the Defensoría del Pueblo, the local military and police commanders, as well as the mayors of the cities of Barrancabermeja, Arauca and Cali. In addition, the Special Rapporteur on torture visited several prisons in Bogota and Barrancabermeja with the main purpose of meeting prisoners whose cases had been forwarded to him in the context of his mandate. He met, in particular, two prisoners who had been kept in isolation in military barracks for several months, and appealed later to the authorities to put an end to that situation. By letter dated 21 November 1994, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that both prisoners had been transferred to civilian prisons. 6. During their visit, the Special Rapporteurs also met with representatives of a wide range of non-governmental organizations active in the field of human rights, representatives of political opposition parties and trade unions, as well as persons testifying in their personal capacity, not only from the cities visited but also from other departments of Colombia, such as Antioquia, Meta, Putumayo, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and from the region of Magdalena Medio. 7. The Special Rapporteurs wish to thank the Government of Colombia for the invitation and for the assistance provided during the mission. The frankness with which the representatives of the different State authorities provided them with information was highly appreciated. The Special Rapporteurs would also like to thank all non-governmental organizations and other groups that provided them with information and, in particular, those who presented their personal testimony to them. Particular thanks are extended to the United Nations Development Programme and the Andean Commission of Jurists Colombian Section, which provided invaluable assistance in coordinating the programme of meetings during the mission. 8. The present report contains in chapter I a short reference to previous visits to Colombia carried out in the framework of thematic mandates of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as an overview of the developments since 1990 affecting the right to life and physical integrity in the country. In chapter II, the Special Rapporteurs present principal issues of concern to their respective mandates, as identified on the basis of documentation received and of the information gathered during the mission. Chapter III illustrates these concerns through an analysis of the situation and interaction of factors in three areas visited by the Special Rapporteurs during their visit. In chapter IV, the Special Rapporteurs examine problems related to the functioning of the administration of justice. Lastly, chapter V contains the conclusions drawn by the Special Rapporteurs and their recommendations for possible ways of improving respect for the right to life and physical integrity. I. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1990 9. Between 1987 and 1989 three different mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights visited Colombia and reported their findings: the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture 1/, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances 2/ and the Special Rapporteur on summary or arbitrary executions. They all focused inter alia on the context of violence