Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from Noemi Sanin Posada, Colombian Ambassador in the UK
I am writing to update you on the most recent
steps taken by the Government of Colombia to further safeguard
human and labour rights in my country.
On 26 June, Congress passed and President of
Colombia Alvaro Uribe sanctioned Law 1309/09, which strengthens
protection for trade unionists and human rights defenders and
increases sentences for crimes committed against them. According
to the new law, the sentence for the murder of any trade union
member has been increased from 20 to 30 years, in line with the
crimes of genocide, forced disappearance, torture and forced displacement.
Additionally, last Saturday, President Uribe
participated in a public ceremony to hand over compensation to
2,000 victims who have lost their families as a result of the
violence of illegal armed groups. The Individual Compensation
Programme was established by Decree 1290 of 2008 with the objective
of providing reparation to those who have suffered human rights
abuses at the hands of the illegal armed groups. During the ceremony,
the President, in his capacity as Head of State, asked the victims
for forgiveness for the violence that the country has suffered
since the mid-1940s and expressed his commitment to the recovering
peace through security with democratic values.
Allow me to offer the Embassy's support in providing
any further information you may require.
6 July 2009
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