Colombia Remains One of the Deadliest Countries for Human Rights Defenders, UN Warns

“It is heartbreaking that Colombia remains one of the deadliest places on earth to be a human rights defender,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Colombia continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world for human rights defenders, with nearly 1,000 killings recorded over the past decade, according to a new report by the UN Human Rights Office, which calls for urgent structural reforms and stronger state action to halt the violence.

“It is heartbreaking that Colombia remains one of the deadliest places on earth to be a human rights defender,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Nearly 100 Killings Every Year

The report paints a stark picture of sustained violence:

• 972 human rights defenders killed between 2016 and 2025

• An average of just under 100 killings per year

• 410 killings recorded between 2022 and 2025 alone

Despite efforts by Colombian authorities, the UN warns that violence remains widespread, systematic, and deeply entrenched.

Post-Peace Agreement Violence Surge

The findings highlight a troubling trend: violence against defenders has increased since the 2016 Peace Agreement with the FARC-EP guerrilla group.

The report links this rise to:

• Power vacuums in former FARC-controlled areas

• Expansion of non-state armed groups

• Weak or inconsistent state presence in rural regions

More than 70% of perpetrators are believed to be non-state armed actors, underscoring the fragmented and volatile security landscape.

Criminal Economies Driving Attacks

A major driver of violence is the expansion of illicit economies, including:

• Drug trafficking

• Illegal mining

• Illegal logging

• Human trafficking

Human rights defenders—particularly those opposing these activities—are often targeted for their work, placing them at the frontline of Colombia’s most dangerous conflicts.

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities

The report reveals that violence is not evenly distributed, with certain groups facing significantly higher risks.

• 23% of victims were Indigenous people, despite representing only 4.7% of the population

• Afro-descendant and rural (peasant) communities are heavily affected

• Other targeted groups include:

  • Environmental defenders

  • Women human rights defenders

  • LGBTQ+ activists

  • Community leaders and political figures

This pattern highlights deep-rooted inequalities and discrimination embedded in the violence.

Thousands of Threats and Attacks Underreported

Beyond killings, the scale of intimidation is vast:

• 2,018 documented cases of threats and attacks (2022–2025)

However, the UN warns this is likely a significant underestimate, due to:

• Lack of a unified national data system

• Underreporting in remote or high-risk areas

“The patterns of homicides, threats, attacks, and forced displacement show that violence is not an isolated phenomenon, but a persistent reality,” the report states.

Government Efforts Fall Short

The report acknowledges that Colombia’s current government has taken important steps, including:

• Public recognition of the crisis

• High-level dialogue with civil society

• Emergency protection measures

• Development of a national policy for defenders

• Cooperation with the UN

However, these measures have not yet reversed the trend.

“State institutions have not been able to overcome the structural challenges needed to provide sustained protection,” the report notes.

Structural Failures: Impunity, Weak Institutions, Corruption

The UN identifies several systemic issues driving continued violence:

• High levels of impunity for perpetrators

• Weak and overstretched institutions

• Corruption within governance systems

• Lack of sustained state presence in conflict zones

These factors create an environment where attacks can occur with little consequence, perpetuating cycles of violence.

Urgent Call for Comprehensive Reform

The report warns that Colombia is at a critical turning point.

“Unless effective measures are taken to make this a state priority, violence against human rights defenders will continue,” it states.

Key recommendations include:

• Strengthening and consolidating public policies

• Implementing institutional reforms

• Advancing criminal investigations to dismantle armed groups

• Reducing impunity through accountability mechanisms

• Developing context-specific protection systems for at-risk communities

Funding Cuts Undermine Protection Efforts

The situation has been further complicated by funding cuts to the UN Human Rights Office in Colombia in 2025, which have:

• Reduced field missions to high-risk areas

• Limited monitoring of killings and threats

• Weakened rapid response capacity

This has significantly impacted the UN’s ability to provide preventive protection and support to vulnerable communities.

A Persistent Human Rights Crisis

Türk stressed that addressing the crisis requires more than reactive measures.

“Alongside ensuring accountability, addressing the structural causes of this human tragedy must be the priority,” he said.

A Test for Colombia’s Peace and Governance

The continued targeting of human rights defenders poses a serious challenge to Colombia’s peace process and democratic institutions.

Without decisive action, the UN warns, the country risks entrenching cycles of violence that undermine both human rights and long-term stability.