With international pressure mounting on the Colombian government, Canada stands at a crossroads: Op-Ed co-authored by SJD Christopher Campbell-Duruflé

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Faculty of Law doctoral candidate (SJD), Christopher Campbell-Duruflé, and Leila Celis a Professor of Sociology at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), write how international pressure is mounting on the Colombian government. They identify three priority avenues for Canada to take action against human rights abuses: 

Colombian security forces have committed serious human rights abuses in response to the huge peaceful rallies held in major cities since April 28. A national strike — known as the Paro Nacional — was launched against the government’s plan to increase sales tax from five to 19 per cent on certain basic goods. The Paro Nacional also reflects frustrations with the government’s catastrophic management of the pandemic, proposals to dismantle the public health system, poverty levels that have soared to 42.5 per cent and the failure to implement the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla.

At least 421 human rights defenders have been assassinated since 2016, with Indigenous leaders being disproportionately affected.

Read the full opinion at The Conversation