The Inter-American Court censures Colombia for its persecution of lawyers defending human rights. -

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ recent ruling held the Colombian State accountable for 22 years of systematic harassment and persecution directed at members of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective Corporation (Cajar), an organization that Colombian Caravana has worked alongside for more than 14 years. Colombia was found to have violated a multitude of rights, including life, integrity, privacy, and freedom of expression, with the now-defunct Administrative Department of Security (DAS) unlawfully monitoring Cajar’s activities. Despite over 2,000 precautionary measures, the organization faced ongoing violence and intimidation, leading to the exile of its lawyers between 2002 and 2010. Colombian Caravana, intimately familiar with the struggles and challenges faced by Cajar, recognizes that they themselves have been victims for their advocacy. The verdict underscores the urgent need for enhanced protections and accountability mechanisms for human rights defenders, spotlighting the challenges they confront and the imperative of justice in the face of state-sponsored persecution.