Photo by Comisión de Justicia y Paz.

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project is accompanying the international observation mission that is taking place from July 3-12.

The mission is receiving testimony from the victims of police repression and other violence that has taken place during the national strike (paro nacional).

On July 7, PBI-Colombia tweeted:

“@PBIColombia accompanies the #MisionSOSColombia in Cali. The mission at this time hears testimonies from victims and human rights organizations in Cali, on the human rights violations in Cali within the framework of the #ParoNacional.”

Then on July 9, it tweeted:

“@PBIColombia continues accompanying the #MisionSOSColombia in Cali. Where there are spaces with a differential character to listen to testimonies of women, indigenous people, young people, human rights defenders, etc. noting the magnitude of human rights violations within the framework of the #ParoNacional.”

Later that day, PBI-Colombia tweeted:

“Culminating the #misionsoscolombia in Cali. Mission heard hundreds of testimonies from victims of the #ParoNacional.”

During this mission, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH-IACHR) released (on July 7) their report on their working visit to Colombia on June 8 to 10 that evaluated the human rights situation since the national strike began on April 28.

CIDH President Antonia Urrejola told journalists: “The commission confirmed that repeatedly and in various regions of the country, the response of the state was characterized by the excessive and disproportionate use of force.”

El Espectador also reports: “Some of the most important issues on which the IACHR pronounced on Wednesday are the right to protest, the disproportionate use of force, sexual and gender-based violence, the ethnic-racial approach, the use of the figure of transfer of protection, the disappearance of persons, military assistance, the application of military criminal jurisdiction, the protection of journalists, and access to the Internet.”

The 41 recommendations from the CIDH-IACHR can be read in their report here.

The #MisionSOSColombia will also present a report with recommendations on the guarantee of the right to protest and against impunity.

PBI-Canada Board member Heather Neun is taking part in this mission and has been with the delegation in Medellin.

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