WRITTEN QUESTION E-1838/98

by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: The human rights situation in Colombia

The general election in Colombia has raised hopes that the extremely serious human rights situation in that country may be normalized. However, it is difficult to be optimistic about the possibility of a rapid change when those who defend human rights continue to be murdered and the murderers remain unpunished.

The Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Marín, speaking on this subject at Parliament's sitting of 14 May last in Strasbourg, expressed his sympathy with the victims and those defending human rights in Colombia, and advocated carrying out measures in addition to those already being undertaken by the European Union. The fact that the European Union is keeping on the Human Rights Office in Bogota for another year is already a positive sign. He also said he was in favour of stepping up cooperation with Colombia in the judicial sphere.

1. Can the Commission draw up judicial cooperation agreements with Colombia?

2. What will its attitude be vis-à-vis actions on the part of regional justice ('faceless judges', anonymous witnesses, etc)?

3. What steps can the Commission take to obtain regular information concerning progress made in the work of the Human Rights Office in Bogota?

4. Could the Commission make arrangements for the UN's special representative Mrs Robinson to appear before the European Parliament, in particular the delegation for relations with South America?

5. Does the Commission intend to redirect its policies vis-à-vis Colombia by providing more support for the NGOs which defend human rights in that country?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 1998)

1. As noted by the Honourable Member, the Commission is following closely and with concern the still generally unsatisfactory human rights situation in Colombia. It has already expressed to the Columbian authorities its concern at the gravity of the situation with regard to human rights and humanitarian law and has called on them to make a stronger commitment to improving it, in particular through cooperation with international organisations.

2. The sector referred to by the Honourable Member, judicial cooperation, is the responsibility of the Member States.

3. "Faceless judges" and other manifestations of Colombian "regional justice" are examples of the weakened rule of law in the country and the current malfunctioning of the justice system, problems which can only be remedied by a radical overhaul of the system. The Commission is studying the possibility of assisting Colombia's judicial institutions with a view to improving the operation of criminal justice there. This is one of Colombia's main priorities in its programme of cooperation with the Community.

4. At the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the President of Colombia and the High Commissioner for Human Rights signed a protocol which, in addition to strengthening the High Commissioner's Office in Santafé de Bogota, obliges it to publish monthly reports on its activities, with information on cases of human rights violations in Colombia accompanied by the Government's comments. These monthly reports are officially distributed by the High Commissioner to interested UN members, international agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Through its permanent delegation to the international organisations in Geneva, the Commission has already had access to the first report on the office's March activities.

5. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights, appeared before Parliament on 23 June. The issue of human rights in Colombia was referred to.

6. Under its programme of cooperation with Colombia, the Commission gives high priority to initiatives which could strengthen machinery for protecting human rights and monitoring violations of these rights. Colombia is considered a priority for the allocation of resources under budget heading "Democratisation and human rights" in Latin America. A large number of initiatives are currently being implemented, mainly via local NGOs.