kolko – Menschenrechte für Kolumbien e.V.

• Room: 2201 | 2nd Courtyard (Entrance A)

• Tel.: 030-42809107

• Fax: 030-41726585

• Web: www.kolko.net

• E-Mail: mail@kolko᎐net

  
  

Kolko e.V. is an independent and non-profit association committed to upholding all basic human rights in Colombia. We work closely with all Columbian civil society organizations that place human rights at the centre of their efforts.

Kolko e.V. is involved as an independent specialist unit in the European Human Rights Network to Columbia. Simultaneously, the office serves as a focal point for the German Human Rights Coordination Colombia, a platform of human rights organizations that coordinate their work on human rights in Colombia and identify common areas of action.

The Situation in Colombia

Every day, human rights defenders, trade unionists or members of social movements in Colombia are threatened, murdered or forcibly abducted for political reasons. This prevents political and social opposition and severely limits political participation, and changes to the extremely unequal distribution of wealth in the country are made impossible. Every year, hundreds of thousands of peasants, indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian communities are expelled from their land in the South American state. The reason for these eviction is usually based on economic interest; instead of agrarian reform, this will further increase land concentration and social inequality. Almost all human rights violations have so far remained exempt from punishment. Colombia is – in human rights terms – a country in a state of emergency. Yet there are many people who fight for their rights and a life of dignity. Human rights organizations and social movements play an important role in protecting civil liberties in the midst of the violent conflict in Colombia. International attention and political support play an essential role in their protection and thus contribute to enabling these organizations to continue their work locally.

International humanitarian law obliges all armed actors – state security forces, paramilitaries and guerrillas – to respect the rights of the civilian population, for example, not to be involved in armed conflicts. So far, all armed actors have violated this right.

Principle

We are committed to strengthening the United Nations and human rights instruments at the international level. The Colombian state, as a signatory to international human rights treaties, is responsible to fully guaranteeing the adherence of human rights to its people. It is responsible for human rights violations when it commits them and when it does not fulfil its obligation to protect the population. We are committed to ensuring that human rights in this country are placed at the centre of our involvement with Colombia – in terms of government contacts as well as economic issues and the media. Therefore, we call on the German and European institutions to demand concrete measures to improve the human rights situation from the Colombian government and to criticize their lack of will. We emphasis the importance of civil-political rights as well as those of economic, social and cultural rights. Kolko e.V. that only a negotiated solution, including social and political reforms, can lead to a solution to the armed conflict. The preservation of the rights of the victims to truth, justice and reparation is an indispensable condition for any form of a peace negotiation.

Field of Activity

Kolko e.V. provides information about the human rights situation in Colombia in German and Spanish for those interested. The focus is on information that can create a counter-public. Germany policy form the government and parliament as well as German economic interest and other bilateral contacts are being critically monitored by Kolko e.V. Among other things, Kolko e.V. informs decision-makers from the Bundestag, the Federal Foreign Office and development cooperation institutions on the human rights situation in Colombia. Through targeted information, lobbying and advocacy work, we want to make a contribution to ensuring that German politics is oriented towards the needs of victims of human rights violations. In this way Kolko e.V.’s work provides support to Columbian victims of human rights violations and human rights organizations. Organized communities, such as the peace communities, are a living alternative to civil conflict transformation and therefore play a prominent role in Kolko e.V’s information and advocacy work. Kolko e.V. supports the networking of human rights work on Colombia in Germany and beyond and has a strong influence on the coordination of organizations interested in the subject. This purposed is served through conferences as well as other events. Kolko e.V. serves as a contact person for Colombian organizations and conducts publicity campaigns in Germany on the topic of human rights in Colombia. Kolko e.V’ work can be supported financially and through participation in actions for the protection of human rights

Konto 322 54 00BLZ 100 205 00Bank für Sozialwirtschaft, Berlin

Donations can be deducted from the tax.