Released from Prison After 7 Years
Since the arrest and trial of Colombian human rights defender, David Ravelo Crespo, Front Line Defenders has campaigned and advocated on his behalf.
David is the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos – CREDHOS (Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in Colombia.
In addition to the Urgent Appeals process and advocacy at the EU level and directly to the government of Colombia, Front Line Defenders has undertaken additional effort to support David, as a long-term case. This has included:
Featuring David's case in the Colombia Radio PSA Campaign in 2012
In 2012, Front Line Defenders partnered with Colombian human rights organization MOVICE for a radio public service announcement (PSA) campaign, aimed at increasing the public awareness of the risks and threats that HRDs in the country face. David's case was one of 6 featured in the campaign.
Visit in Prison in 2013 and 2016
In 2013, Front Line Defenders Head of Campaigns, Adam Shapiro, visited David in prison, to consult with the HRD and express solidarity. During the visit, David - a writer and poet - penned a poem for Adam to bring back to Dublin, "El Firmamento". Later, Front Line Defenders would help support the publication of a book of poems that David write during his incarceration, which was published in Colombia.
In 2016, Front Line Defenders Americas Protection Coordinator, Ivi Oliveira, visited David in prison, and reaffirmed Front Line Defenders efforts to see to his release from prison.
Finalist for the Front Line Defenders Award in 2013
In 2013, David was named as a finalist for the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. As part of the profile for the Award ceremony and visibility work, Front Line Defenders produced and disseminated this video, spotlighting the work and persecution of the human rights defender.
High Level Advocacy Visit by former Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore in 2015
Former Irish Foreign Minister and current EU Envoy to the Colombia Peace Process visited Colombia (with FLD's former Americas Protection Coordinator, Caitriona Rice) in 2015 to press the government to review the irregularities and problems with the prosecution of David's case, as had been documented by Colombian and international human rights organizations, including Front Line Defenders. Minister Gilmore met David in prison and met with key officials. Writing in The Solicitor's Journal following his trip, Minister Gilmore noted, "David has been targeted, by the legal system, for specific reasons. He has consistently and vociferously spoken out about the links between the government of president Uribe and paramilitary groups. He has refused to be silent. He has refused to leave his native province of Barrancabermeja, and above all else, because he has refused to allow himself to be killed."
Former Irish Foreign Minister (second from right), in front of La Picota Prison, where David Ravelo Crespo was detained. He visited with (from left to right) David Ravelo, Jr., son of the HRD; Caitriona Rice, and Reynaldo Villalba Vargas, David's lawyer.
