The Parliamentary Friends of Colombia (PFC), a cross-party group of more than 70 MPs in the UK parliament, has written to Colombian president Iván Duque over the high levels of violence impacting many regions of Colombia ahead of upcoming congressional and presidential elections.
The letter, signed by PFC co-chair Tony Lloyd MP, addresses ongoing violence against trade unionists and social activists, as well as the recent car bomb attack on the CUT trade union confederation’s offices in Arauca, eastern Colombia, and the discovery of an explosive device in a Bogota restaurant run by former combatants in the peace process.
With the United Nations Mission in Colombia having recently warned of the potential for violence during election campaigning, the letter highlights the UN’s recommendation for implementation of security mechanisms contained in the peace agreement. It also calls for protections to ensure that communities impacted by conflict and inequality are able to vote safely and freely.
Read or download the full letter below.