Briefing CODHES report No. 94: Humanitarian Situation in 2018

BRIEFING CODHES REPORT N°94: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN 2018 SUMMARY

Office of the Attorney General seems to have disperse information.

CODHES asked them about 275 cases of threats and homicides of leaders in 2017. In 74,18% of the cases there were no answer, 23,27% of cases information request were sent to local offices from the central office (it may show there is at least a process in Local Attorney Offices), even if the national office do not know about it.

JANUARY – JUNE, 2018

1. Leaders on Target 

Between January 1st and June 30th, at least 68 social and community leaders were killed. And by July 8th, were 81 killed leaders.

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Map 1 shows a perfect coincidence between killings and peace process support municipalities. This war is against peace promotors.

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Of leaders killed between January and June 62 were man and 6 were women.

Nevertheless, homicide is not the best indicator to identify women leaders risk, attacks against them are more violent and is trough their family members (killing of sons, nephews, nieces, daughters, husbands, siblings etc.)

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34% of killed leaders were Indigenous (16%) or Afrodescendant (18%) traditional Authorities, Pacific Region is particularly affected by violence and most of it is Ethnical Territory.

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40% of killed leaders were members of Community Action Committees, 30% were advocating land protection processes, 11% were illegal crop’s substitution promotors, 5,7% were armed conflict victims’ representatives (also victims) and 4% were reporting environmental and social impacts of Hidroituango dam, 9,3% were on educative sector and community press.

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Also 5 of 10 leaders killed on July first week were Colombia Humana local campaign promoters. It is setting a high risk for the 2019 local elections.

Only in 7 cases CODHES get a official answer of the case state, 4 are under investigation and 3 were cold-closed because “it was impossible to find the active subject of crime” it means the offender.

2. Humanitarian Crisis of Forced Displacement Do Not Stop 

Between January 1st and June 30th at least 112 mass displacement occurred in Colombia, it means at least 35.409 people has came out of their lands and houses to become IDPs because of the direct armed pressure and combats between National Army and illegal armed groups.

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Of these affected people, 5.228 people are from afrodescendant communities and 4.294 from indigenous people. It means 27% of mass IDPs are ethnical peoples.

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First semester of 2018 has been the worst semester of Mass Displacement in 2010’s decade. Dispute over territorial control left by FARC guerrilla and the slow track of State coming on local territories (not only Army, but Civil State) resulted in a Humanitarian crisis like the previous decade.

3. Armed Conflict Situation 

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First Semester of 2018, there have been 360 armed actions and 285 breaches of international humanitarian. In those have participate 26 armed groups and all Legal military forces and Police. Also 8 armed groups have showed presence through treats but not public armed actions.

Most affected regions are where are disputes for armed control of strategic economies or facilities. For Example City-Harbors and near by places, such as Cartagena, Turbo, Buenaventura, Santa Marta and Tumaco.

Also are affected Corridor-Regions to control economies (illegal Crops, Mining etc) North of Cauca Department, Bajo Cauca (Between Cordoba and Antioquia), Catatumbo, and Pacific Corridor.

For Further Information, please contact: Marco Romero CODHES Director marcoromero@codhes.org Paola Hurtado CODHES SISDHES Coordinator paolahurtado@codhes.org www.codhes.org