Seven International Caravana of Lawyers to Colombia
20-28 August 2022
Judicial independence: a challenge in the face of impunity
…Let’s see how I can come up with a strategy so that they don’t kill me. That’s the first thing I have to do in the morning…
Julia Figueroa, Human Rights Lawyer, CCALCP
On behalf of the Colombian human rights lawyers, Colombian Caravana invites interested legal professionals from all sectors of the profession or experts with relevant academic or practitioner experience in human rights to apply to our seventh international delegation to Colombia at the end of August 2022.
The Colombian Caravana has organised biennial delegations to Colombia since 2008, with the latest delegation visiting Colombia in 2018. During the pandemic 2020-2021 the Caravana put the delegations on hold, which we are now happy to resume. Since our inception fourteen years ago, our accompaniment and professional solidarity have been and remain an important source of support to our colleagues in Colombia, as threats to their safety continue unabated. Colombia remains the country with the highest murder rate for human rights defenders in the world. While the Colombian Government has previously acknowledged the gravity of these threats, the issue persists. This year has seen yet another alarming escalation, with at least 19 massacres and 22 social leaders murdered in early 2022.
This year’s visit will take place at a pivotal moment in Colombia’s transitional justice process. Presidential elections are to be held and the end of May, and the Truth Commission is set to publish its final report in June. The elected government will take office in August, enabling the Caravana to meet with new government representatives early on in their mandates and ensure that the protection of lawyers is recognised as a crucial issue by the incoming administration.
Applications from interested individuals are welcomed until 15 of June 2022. We will endeavour to inform applicants whether they have been selected by 21 June 2022.
Further information about the delegation click here and the application form is available here.