Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
84 human rights leaders were killed in Colombia last year
Manuel Rueda, Associated Press
Updated 6:02 pm, Friday, March 16, 2018
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The United Nations said Friday that 84 human rights activists were killed in Colombia last year as the country struggles to contain violence following a 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Analysts say the peace deal has led to an overall decrease in homicide rates. But in a report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said activists and social leaders are still being targeted by drug traffickers, right wing death squads and smaller rebel groups.
The report said the FARC's withdrawal from some remote areas of Colombia has set off fierce competition among criminal groups to gain control of the former guerrillas' assets, including drug trafficking routes and fields of coca used to make cocaine.
Human rights activists have been caught up in this new power struggle.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/UN-says-84-rights-activists-killed-in-Colombia-12759914.php