CORPOINDH
CORPOINDH is an organisation dedicated to the defence, monitoring, promotion and protection of the human rights of victims of the armed conflict, as well as legal representation and monitoring of cases of aggressions against human rights defenders. The organisation also works with cases of violence against women and domestic abuse, violation of the rights of children and adolescents, defence of natural resources in the territories, protection and strengthening of the social and business fabric. CORPOINDH prepares reports on assassinations against leaders, human rights defenders and the general population, as well as analyses on the presence of the Illegal Armed Groups (GAI), Organised Criminal Groups (GDO), Organised Armed Groups (GAO) and dissidents operating in Barrancabermeja, Santander and Magdalena Medio.
As a consequence of the strong impact of the corporation in the different rural and urban areas of the region where they work and the continuous denunciations and reports presented by the corporation to the public, including denunciations about the possible links of state officials with various members of these criminal organisations, CORPOINDH and its volunteers have suffered death threats, forced displacements, persecution, surveillance, harassment and in some cases attempts on their lives, with the aim of weakening the organisation.
HRDs in Colombia work in a violent and unsafe environment. They are subjected to threats, intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, physical assaults, torture, killings, illegal searches of their homes and offices and stigmatisation as a result of their activities in defence of human rights. The perpetrators of these abuses are frequently paramilitary groups, many of whom have links to the government or security services, or armed opposition groups. The continued frequent and severe threats and attacks against HRDs around the country contradict government claims of paramilitary demobilisation.
HRDs at risk in Colombia come from a broad range of different backgrounds, including: trade unionists, indigenous leaders, afro-colombian leaders, activists working with internally displaced persons and on land issues, women's rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, students and youth activists, church workers, LGBTI and HIV activists.
