Human rights panel investigates alleged abuses in Colombia

Representatives from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) arrived in Colombia this week to investigate allegations of rights abuses committed during six weeks of anti-government protests.

Fifty-eight people have died during the protests so far according to Colombia’s human rights ombudsman, which has received over 400 allegations of violations including police beatings and sexual abuse of protesters in police custody.

On Monday, Colombian president Iván Duque announced plans to modernise the country’s police force, introducing human rights training for officers and increasing oversight. However, the president has been criticised for his continued refusal to condemn police violence.

The ongoing demonstrations first erupted on 28 April over a since-axed tax reform bill. The plan would have lowered the income tax threshold and raised value-added tax on basic goods.

The proposals, which were seen to disproportionately impact poorer people, were the tipping point for a society struggling with a third wave of the pandemic.

According to Ivan Briscoe, programme director of Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Crisis Group, the pandemic has “massively” influenced the protests.

“The pandemic has exposed the reality [of Colombian society] and made it worse,” says Mr Briscoe. “The government has not been able to handle this.”

The pandemic has pushed 3.5 million Colombians into poverty, meaning 43 per cent of the population does not earn enough to satisfy basic needs.

Poorer Colombians have also been hit harder by the disease, proving ten times more likely to be hospitalised due to Covid-19 than rich Colombians.

After almost six weeks of demonstrations, protesters are not backing down. Talks between the government and protest leaders broke down last week, but are expected to resume on Sunday.

Alfred Palacios, an industrial designer from Bogotá, hopes that change is coming.

“These protests have already achieved a lot,” says Mr Palacios, referring to the withdrawal of the tax bill and an unpopular health reform plan. “I do think this is a moment of change.”

Other demands, notably the denouncement of police brutality and the introduction of universal basic income, have yet to be met.

Mr Palacios believes wider change will come when Colombians head to the polls next year.

“My hope is that traditional parties will be left behind and an alternative party is elected,” he says.

Presidential elections will take place in May 2022.

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