By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTÁ, Colombia – The number of internally displaced persons in Colombia has surpassed 6 million, according to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. The report surveys the number of refugees, displaced persons, asylum seekers and “others of concern.”

Although this year’s report identifies a decrease in the number of reported refugees, this is mainly attributed to Venezuela’s revision of the reported number of Colombian refugees in the country. Despite the decrease, Colombia has the highest number of refugees and internally displaced persons in South America, and is second only to Syria world-wide. There are 6.4 million Colombians falling into this category. Out of those, 137,000 are internally displaced persons. Only Syria has a greater number of refugees and internally displaced persons, with about 12 million people falling into this category.

“It’s not just the FARC,” says UNHCR Colombia Representative Martin Gottwald. Forty percent of human rights violations in Colombia are perpetrated by new “irregular groups,” many of which have evolved from long demobilized paramilitary groups.

The high number of internally displaced persons and refugees are the result of 50 years of conflict between the Colombian government and different groups, including the FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The FARC and the Colombian government have engaged in peace talks on-and-off since November 2012.

The release of the report comes on the heels of the 2015 Global Peace Index, which ranked Colombia as 146 out of 162 countries worldwide. The report named the high number of displaced persons and refugees as a driving factor behind the low score.

About a week before the release of the report, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres publicly expressed concern over the effects of the ongoing conflict. He called for “solutions… to guarantee the safety and dignity of refugees and people displaced inside Colombia,” and said that the UNHCR would be ready to support the peace process.

Guterres also commented on the rising number of internally displaced persons and refugees worldwide, citing that one in every 122 people is a refugee, internally displaced person, or asylum seeker. Criticizing global inaction on the issue, he said: “It is terrifying that on the one hand there is more and more impunity for those starting conflicts, and on the other there is seeming utter inability of the international community to work together to stop wars and build and preserve peace.”

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Profiles: Colombia’s armed groups – 29 August 2013

UNHCR – UN High Commissioner for Refugees expresses concern over fresh fighting in Colombia – 11 June 2015

International Business Times – Latin America Less Peaceful in 2015 Due to Rising Instability: Report – 17 June 2015

Miami Herald – U.N. Report: Colombia continues to lead world in displaced, refugees – 18 June 2015

UNHCR – World-wide displacement hits all-time high as war and prosecution increase – 18 June 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela — Daniel Ceballos, a jailed Venezuelan opposition leader, ended his hunger strike on June 11. He is the former mayor of San Cristobal.

Ceballos, along with fellow opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez have been engaging in hunger strikes for the release of imprisoned Venezuelan opposition members.

They are also demanding that the government set a date for parliamentary elections, which are due to be held this year.

Ceballos ended his strike after 20 days due to kidney pain. His weight had dropped to 57 kilos (125 pounds). It has not been confirmed whether Lopez has continued his strike.

Ceballos was arrested last year in response to his role in anti-government protests. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Ceballos and Lopez of being responsible for 40 deaths during anti-government protests last year.

The announcement of the end of his strike was made by Patricia de Ceballos, who ran for (and won) her husband’s mayoral position after his arrest.

Following the announcement of the end of his strike, Ceballos was transferred to a new detention center.

About 74 Venezuelans, in the country and elsewhere throughout the world have joined Ceballos and Lopez in their protest. The protesters come from all walks of life, including five political prisoners, one congressman, two councilmen, a teacher, a state employee and over 50 youth activists.

Two councilmen from Venezuela in Rome participating in the protests met with Monseigneur Carlos Mendiola, a Vatican representative. Venezuelan exiles in New York City protested outside of the United Nations Headquarters and were granted an audience with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Those striking in solidarity has stated their main objective is to gain attention for the plight of the political dissidents from bodies like the United Nations and the Catholic Church. These protests have been somewhat successful – some world leaders have begun issuing statements directed at Maduro and Venezuela.

European Council President Donald Tusk expressed his disapproval over the opposition imprisonments in Venezuela. Although the Council’s official declaration discussed its opposition to US sanctions against Venezuela, Tusk called this a “compromise.” He indicated that the perceived human rights violations in Venezuela were a topic of conversation were a topic behind closed doors.

In an opinion piece in El País, Desmond Tutu, South-African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate called on Maduro to release political prisoners. He also condemned human rights violations in the country.

Venezuela has yet to respond to any of the allegations or demands.

 

For more information, please see:

Buenos Aires Herald – Jailed former Venezuela mayor ends hunger strike – 11 June 2015

PanAm Post – Vatican, UN lend an ear to Venezuelan hunger strikers – 11 June 2015

Reuters – Jailed former mayor ends hunger strike in Venezuela – 11 June 2015

PanAm Post – Desmond Tutu slams Nicolas Maduro over human rights violations – 12 June 2015

PanAm Post – Venezuelan political prisoner Daniel Ceballos abandons hunger strike – 12 June 2015

Wall Street Journal – European council president challenges Venezuela after human rights violations after summit – 12 June 2015

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Over 200,000 people took part in demonstrations outside of the National Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday 4 June to protest violence against women. Smaller protests also occurred in 80 other cities around the country. Demonstrations were also held in neighboring Chile and Uruguay.

Demonstrators carried banners and badges bearing the slogan, “Ni una menos”, which means, “not one less.” Others wore t-shirts in support of the movement.

The demonstrations were organized by journalists, writers and artists following the news of the murder of Chiara Páez, a pregnant 14 year old by her 16 year old boyfriend. He allegedly beat her to death after learning she was pregnant.

Chiara’s death is only the latest in a string of instances of violence against women. In April, a kindergarten teacher (who had separated from her husband and had a restraining order against him) was killed when her husband stormed into her classroom and slit her throat in front of a group of children.

Another woman was shot by her estranged partner a mere two days before the demonstrations. She remains in serious condition.

Femicide – the killing of a woman by a man where her gender plays a role in the crime – is a growing issue in Argentina. Over 250 femicides have occurred each year since 2010. Activists have reported that a woman is killed in Argentina every 31 hours – culminating in over 1,800 deaths since 2008.

Many are calling for a change in culture to curb the violence, including Argentinian lawmaker Gabriela Alegre: “The current situation shows that legislation and prison sentences are not enough. We have to confront the problem by changing the culture and educating people.”

That attitude was echoed by La Casa del Encuentro, an NGO which provides counseling for abused women in Argentina. Head Fabiana Tunez spoke of “a society that is sick with machista attitudes where the woman continues to be seen as a thing to be dominated.”

The problem isn’t restricted to Argentina. Statistics suggest that over five women are killed in instances of domestic violence per day in Mexico, and as many as 15 per day are killed in Brazil.

Although Argentina has taken some steps towards curbing the issue, activists urge that it hasn’t been enough. The National Congress passed legislation in 2009 to prevent violence against women, and in 2012 passed laws initiating harsher sentences for femicide. However, despite these efforts cases of violence against women have still increased.

 

For more information please see:

AFP – Brutal murders show violence women face in Latin America – 2 June 2015

BBC – Argentine marches condemns domestic violence – 4 June 2015

Buenos Aires Herald – #NiUnaMenos: a deafening cry sweeps country – 4 June 2015

International Business Times – 200,000 rally against femicide and domestic violence in Buenos Aires – 4 June 2015

PanAm Post – Mass Protests Call Out Argentina’s Femicide Problem – 4 June 2015

The Independent – Thousands takes part in mass demonstrations to condemn violence against women – 4 June 2015