The Observatory for the Protection of Human rights Defenders, a joint initiative of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), welcomes the announcement of the conviction of six soldiers for the assassination of Sr Edwin Legarda, husband of indigenous leader Sra Aida Quilcué.

Summary of Statement by The Observatory

The Observatory notes that the killing of Sr Legarda took place on the 16 December, the day after his wife Sra Aida Quilcué, had returned from Geneva, Switzerland where she had been taking part in the Universal Periodic Review of Colombia by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Sra Aida Quilcué had been taking part in the meeting as a representative of the Regional Indigenous Council of the CAUCA (CRIC) and the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia (ONIC) to denounce human rights abuses committed against the indigenous peoples of Colombia.

While welcoming this announcement The Observatory expresses the hope that the perpetrators will receive an appropriate sentence and that adequate compensation will be paid to the family of Sr Legarda.

The Observatory also calls for an end to the attacks on human rights defenders in Colombia and for the Government of Colombia to fully implement the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders as well as the various other human rights instruments to which it is a party.

The full text of the statement by The Observatory is attached as a PDF - in Spanish.