At least 85 human rights defenders were murdered in Colombia in the first half of 2023.
During the same period, the Somos Defensores information system recorded 466 violent attacks against 438 people. In 25% of assaults and 18% of murders, the victims were women. The paramilitaries of the Clan del Golfo, also known as the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC), are the main perpetrators of the attacks.
The murders continue as Colombia’s new leftist president Gustavo Petro struggles to control the far right state forces, being the first left wing president in Colombia’s history.
Colombia’s government and the rebel group known as FARC-EMC on Monday signed a three-month cease-fire and formally began peace talks, as President Gustavo Petro tries to bolster his plans to pacify rural areas ahead of regional elections that will take place at the end of October.
The talks with the FARC-EMC are part of President Petro’s total peace strategy, which includes negotiating with various armed groups.
Colombia’s government in June signed a 6-month cease-fire with the National Liberation Army, the country’s largest remaining guerrilla group.