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.
“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.
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
Ecuador declares state of emergency in five provinces to combat organized crime
The Ecuadorian government has declared a state of exception in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, and Santa Elena for 60 days to combat organized armed groups amid escalating hostilities, according to Executive Decree 250 published on Tuesday.
The Armed Forces and National Police are jointly working to “maintain sovereignty and the integrity of the state.”
With this measure, the right to inviolability of the home has been suspended, meaning security authorities are permitted to conduct inspections, raids, and searches on properties where they believe members associated with armed groups may be hiding.
Authorities will also seize “materials or instruments” that could be used to commit crimes to neutralize threats.
In response to the criminal activity in the territory, the government will also establish an Anti-Criminal Investigation Force in the coming days aimed at reducing intentional homicides.
The national director of Crimes Against Life, Violent Deaths, Disappearances, Extortion, and Kidnapping of the National Police (Dinased), Freddy Sarzosa, noted that the main cause of criminal violence is linked to drug and arms trafficking.
International
Argentine president criticizes spanish PM amidst political row
Argentine President Javier Milei sharply criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, suggesting he “has more significant issues to address,” in response to comments made by Spain’s Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, on Friday.
“The government of Pedro Sánchez has more significant issues to deal with, such as the corruption allegations against his wife, a matter that even led him to consider resignation,” stated Argentine President Javier Milei.
In this regard, the Argentine leader expressed his expectation that the judiciary would act “swiftly” in this corruption case, which he mentioned “affects the stability” of Spain and relations between the two nations.
Moreover, Milei accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of “endangering” the unity of Spain by “negotiating with separatists,” harming women by “allowing illegal immigration of those who threaten their physical integrity,” and damaging the middle class through “socialist policies that only bring poverty and death.”
The Argentine presidency issued these statements in response to remarks from Spain’s Minister of Transport and Mobility, Óscar Puente, who accused Milei of “substance ingestion,” which the Argentine presidency labeled as “slander and libel.”
“I saw Milei on TV and, hearing him, I couldn’t tell in what state he was in, before or after the ingestion of whatever substances, and he came out to say that and I thought, it’s impossible that he wins the elections, he’s dug his own grave, but no,” Puente declared at a colloquium on communication and social media held this Friday in Salamanca.
International
The death toll of the devastating floods in Kenya amounts to 210
The death toll from the devastating floods caused by the torrential rains that hit Kenya since mid-March amounted to 210, while about 165,500 people have been displaced, the Kenyan Ministry of the Interior reported on Friday.
The total death toll increased after 22 more deaths were confirmed in the last 24 hours, the Ministry said in a statement collected by local media.
Likewise, the injured and missing remain at 125 and 90, respectively, and a total of 196,000 have been affected by the floods throughout the country, immersed in the long rainy season, which has especially hit the center, south and west of its territory.
To respond to this crisis, the Ministry said, the Kenyan authorities have created at least 115 camps distributed in 19 of the 47 counties of Kenya, where more than 27,500 people have taken refuge.
The Government published these data after the Kenyan Minister of the Interior, Kithure Kindiki, urged on Thursday to move all Kenyans who reside in areas vulnerable to landslides or near dams and rivers.
In a message published on social network X late on Thursday, Kindiki pointed out that all neighbors in those areas are “ordered” to “leave these areas immediately” in the next 24 hours, before a “mandatory evacuation” is launched.
“The Government has adopted adequate measures to provide temporary accommodation, as well as essential food and non-food supplies to all those who will be affected by the eviction,” the minister said.
The truth is, however, that, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization, the Government of Kenya did not act in time or respond adequately to the serious floods, despite the weather predictions it had.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NGO warned that the destruction caused by the rains “has exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerabilities” by more severely hitting the poor population, rural residents, the elderly and people with disabilities.
In the same vein, a report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) published on Tuesday pointed out that the storms have aggravated the lack of food in Kenya to the point that about two million Kenyans need food aid.
Severe storms will last at least until next week, and the rains will continue to be intense during this month, according to the prediction of the Department of Meteorology of Kenya.
In recent years, the long rainy season, which runs from March to May and also affects other countries in East Africa, has been intensified by the El Niño weather phenomenon, a change in atmospheric dynamics caused by the increase in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean.
The west, center and south of the country – including the capital, Nairobi – have so far taken the worst part, and the overflow of a river on Monday especially hit Nakuru County, where at least 71 people died as a result of the tragedy.
Ecuador declares state of emergency in five provinces to combat organized crime
Argentine president criticizes spanish PM amidst political row
The death toll of the devastating floods in Kenya amounts to 210
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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