Human Rights Watch today called for the immediate release of all civilian hostages in Colombia. That is simply unacceptable.
International law forbids the targeting of civilians in wartime.
We stand with these families and call on all sides in this conflict never to target civilians. Jos Miguel Vivanco Americas director of Human Rights Watch. It is estimated that the FARC is holding hundreds of civilians hostage, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. All civilians taken by guerrillas and paramilitaries and held for ransom or political concessions are considered hostages by Human Rights Watch. That is simply unacceptable.