Colombia: submission to the 44th session of the Universal Periodic Review

Introduction

1. CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) and Impulso18 are human rights organisation specialising in the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. This submission to Colombia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) focuses on violations of the right to FoRB and other intersecting rights during the reporting period.

2. Colombia is a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and is party to a number of other international human right treaties.

3. Many citizens participate in religious activities on a regular basis without any hindrance. A significant percentage, however, is subjected to consistent and serious violations of their right to FoRB, including freedom of conscience, despite strong protections of FoRB in the Colombian constitution (Article 19) and in international treaties to which the state is party.

4. FoRB violations in the country take two main forms: those perpetrated by armed groups which often specifically targeting religious leaders, and violations against religious minorities belonging to indigenous groups.

5. Regrettably, during the third cycle of the UPR, Colombia only received one recommendation pertaining to the right to FoRB and freedom of conscience, which was noted. The recommendation called on Colombia to ‘Establish an independent and impartial application and decision-making procedure for implementing the right to conscientious objection to military service.’

To read the submission in full, you can download the pdf here.