HRC59: Oral statement during ID on the High Commissioner’s report on technical cooperation in Colombia

Item 10:Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on technical cooperation in Colombia

Speaker:Jonathan de Leyser

Thank you Mr President,

CSW thanks the High Commissioner for his report on Colombia.

Despite the clear and specific targeting of religious or belief communities by illegal armed groups, the final report of Colombia’s Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition fails to meaningfully address the decades of violations against individuals based on religion or belief.

As recent developments in the country have made clear once again, this was a grave oversight.

In 2024 and 2025 at least five pastors and church leaders have been murdered in areas under the control or influence of illegal armed and criminal groups.

Among them was Pastor Marlon Lora, who was shot dead along with his entire family on 29 December following a Sunday morning service at the Missionary Bible Church in Aguachica.

On 4 and 5 April eight individuals, including seven Protestant church leaders and active church members, were forcibly disappeared after receiving orders to attend meetings with members of an illegal armed group in Guaviare Department.

Their bodies were discovered in a mass grave in a rural part of the municipality, as confirmed in a statement issued by Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office on 1 July.

CSW calls on Colombia to recognise the specific vulnerability of religious leaders in the country and to ensure their access to government protection programs and security mechanisms as and when necessary.

We also urge the Office of the Attorney-General to prioritise its investigations of killings of human rights defenders, including religious leaders.

Thank you.