International

UN Report Highlights Surge in Violence in Colombia Despite Government Efforts

The UN Office for Human Rights in Colombia presented its annual report on Wednesday, once again highlighting an increase in violence, such as massacres, which numbered 98 in 2023, and the growth of armed groups despite advancements in peace negotiations and a greater focus on human rights in government policies.

According to the annual report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in 2023, this entity was able to verify six more massacres than in 2022, resulting in 320 victims, and 105 murders of human rights defenders (eleven fewer than the previous year).

“Our assessment of the situation in 2023 is concerning because despite a decrease in some violence indicators, the territorial expansion and violent social and territorial control strategies of non-state armed groups and criminal organizations with serious consequences for human rights continue,” explained Juliette de Rivero, the office’s representative in Colombia.

While acknowledging steps taken by the current Colombian government toward human rights and efforts to reach the most neglected areas with social policies, the UN Office appreciated “important decisions made by the government to combat inequality,” including recognizing peasants as rights-holders and measures to enable access to university for those with fewer resources.

However, the violence persists, with the situation in regions either not improving or worsening. According to the UN Human Rights Violence Impact Index, violence now affects 206 municipalities in 28 of the country’s 32 departments, up from 156 municipalities in 2021.

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“The consolidation of power by groups in some territories represents a risk to governance in Colombia and to the protection of the human rights of the population,” said the representative.

Tame, in the Arauca department bordering Venezuela, has the highest violence index, and the UN office is also deeply concerned about the situation of the Nasa indigenous people in Cauca (southwest), among other communities.

Moreover, 46 people with political leadership, including 11 candidates, were assassinated last year during municipal and departmental elections.

The UN Office also registered 53 cases of gender-based violence, including sexual violence and cases of human trafficking for sexual exploitation against girls.

Regarding the recruitment, use, or involvement of children in the armed conflict, the UN verified 134 cases (86 boys, 42 girls, and 6 without confirmed gender) by non-state armed groups and criminal organizations, more than half of whom were indigenous.

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In light of these findings, the UN recommended “strengthening governance and the rule of law in territories given the worrying insecurity situation” through the implementation of new security, dismantlement, and drug policies.

Furthermore, it emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on the government’s responsibility to ensure security in regions and respond to attacks or human rights violations even while negotiating with armed groups.

“We believe that territorial peace dialogues should aim to strengthen the comprehensive presence of the state and the transformation of territories, with the active participation of grassroots organizational processes and local and ethnic authorities,” concluded De Rivero.

International

Trump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to halt federal funding for two public media outlets, PBS television and NPR radio, accusing them of being biased.

NPR and PBS are partially funded by American taxpayers but rely heavily on private donations.

Trump has long maintained a hostile relationship with most media outlets, which he has referred to as the “enemy of the people.”

An exception is the conservative Fox News channel, some of whose hosts have played important roles in the administration of the Republican magnate.

“National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB),” Trump said.

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“Therefore, I direct the CPB board and all executive departments and agencies to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS,” he added.

The Republican leader argued that “neither of these entities provides a fair, accurate, or impartial portrayal of current events to the taxpayer citizens.”

At the end of March, Donald Trump called on Congress to end public funding for these two “horrible and completely biased networks.”

International

Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka

Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.

The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.

An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.

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Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.

Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.

Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.

Internacionales

Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages

May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.

In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.

Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.