By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian Ombudsman Jorge Armando Otálora is facing allegations of sexual harassment from his former private secretary. Astrid Helena Cristancho, an attorney, resigned from her position last November “in protest.” She made her story and allegations of abuse public in Daniel Coronell’s column published in Semana. Cristancho provided Coronell with explicit photos sent to her by Otálora, documents and screenshots of conversations detailing the harassment.
Cristancho filed an official complaint with the Attorney General in January. She said she did not immediately report the abuse out of fear, calling Otálora a “powerful person who has lots of money.” She told journalists while filing the complaint: “I call on all women and men who have been victims of any type of harassment to speak up.” She was wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan “No Means No.”
Otálora, in response defended himself by saying he was in love with Cristancho, calling the photographs “the result of trust in a relationship between couples who spent very nice moments.”
Human Rights groups had called for Otálora’s resignation, and several politicians and political parties have withdrawn their support. Although Otálora had initially said that he would not resign, he finally did so on January 28. Otálora attributed the “media-hyped scandal” to “political enemies wanting to damage the institution he represents.”
Additionally, Otálora allegedly called for the resignation of his Assistant Ombudsman, Esiquio Manuel Sanchez Herrera, due to “institutional adjustments” in the office. Sanchez, however, claims that he made the decision to resign voluntarily because of the scandal. He told reporters that he “made this decision voluntarily,” and that it is “best for the country and for the institution.”
Otálora was also accused of being an “abusive boss” by his former deputy, Juan Manual Osoria, who resigned in August 2015. He claimed to endure insults and screaming from Otálora. Cristancho also reported similar abuse in her complaint, in additional to the sexual harassment.
For more information, please see:
Semana – El acoso no era solo laboral, tambien sexuel – 23 January 2016
EFE – Colombian ombudsman accused of harassment asks for resignation of his No. 2 – 27 January 2016
Prensa Latina – Colombia Ombusman Could Resign after Sexual Harassment – 27 January 2016
Associated Press – Colombia’s human rights boss resigns amid harassment scandal – 28 January 2016
