As Colombian security forces continue to commit widespread human rights abuses against civilian protesters, members of the British Parliament have submitted an Early Day Motion calling on the British government to condemn the excessive use of force. The EDM is a statement to which MPs can add their names.
If you would like to support human rights in Colombia, you can urge your MP to sign the EDM. To find your MP and their contact details, click on this link and enter your postcode. At the bottom of this article, you can download email text which you can use as a template to write to your MP. If you can lets us know when you have sent it or if you get a response by writing to us at info@justiceforcolombia.org.
View the EDM, and see which MPs have already signed, on the UK government website.
Below is the full text for the EDM condemning state violence in Colombia and calling on the British government to review its training and funding of Colombian police.
EARLY DAY MOTION #4 PROTESTS IN COLOMBIA
That this House expresses profound concern on reports of excessive use of force by the Colombian police, against overwhelmingly peaceful social protests as confirmed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights across Colombia from 28 April 2021, as part of a national strike; believes the right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly are essential tenets of democracy; condemns serious human rights violations allegedly carried out by the police, including the use of live ammunition resulting in the deaths of over 30 protesters, numerous cases of sexual violence and serious injuries, over 100 people reported disappeared, over 800 arbitrary arrests, and targeted attacks on civil society organisations and human rights defenders, some of whom were trying to monitor the police; also condemns the small minority who infiltrated the peaceful protests and perpetrated violence; notes with alarm the Colombian Government’s order to militarise the cities and urges them instead to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the protest organisers to address their legitimate grievances; calls on the Government to review its training of the Colombian Police, suspend the sale of riot control materials and review all other arms exports to Colombia in light of the current situation; and further calls on the Government as pen holders for the Colombian peace process at the UN Security Council to promote substantive reform of the Colombian security services and full implementation of the Peace Accord.