The UN's commission on Human Rights met in March where a statement was made by the chairman that was highly critical of the situation in Colombia. The statement is what John Lewis, KAIROS' international human rights specialist for Latin America, calls a victory for grassroots initiatives working towards peace. "There is a vibrant civil society in Colombia and it needs as much support as the international community can give it," he said. "They're the ones who will bring people together and defend human rights." KAIROS stands for Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, which supports peace-building programs in Colombia.
However, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, which lobbies the federal government to take a stand against human rights violations in Colombia, doesn't feel as positive about the statement. They said stronger words could have been used to describe the situation and a firmer commitment to help should have been made.
Compounding the council's worries is a recent Colombian government document that was sent to international ambassadors and agencies. The "International Cooperation Project Focus Guidelines" made clear that the phrase "internal armed conflict" is not to be used when referring to the situation in Colombia, and "humanitarian situation" cannot be used in a way that is limited only to the actions of government forces.
These and other changes were made without consulting the G-24 countries and civil society sectors it concerns, ignoring a previous agreement and thwarting the positive dialogue they previously shared. The council has urged Canada to make a public statement denouncing the document.
Nadja Drost, coordinator of the CCIC's Americas Policy Group, is disappointed with the letter. She said it's an attempt by the government to shift international perception of the conflict. "They're describing it as black and white; terrorists against non-terrorists." She said the document has "ruffled the feathers of international donors," and calls it a "definite step backwards." – AM
