A/HRC/10/82
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in the belief that access for the entire population to health care should be guaranteed, especially
for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, it asked about recent measures and future
expectations in this area.
60.
Uruguay noted that Colombia recognizes a situation of violence in its national report that
dates back at least 40 years. It stated that the presence of paramilitary, guerrilla and drug
trafficking groups had destroyed the population and financed weapons for the conflict. It noted
the democratic system, excellent laws and a judicial power, including a Constitutional Court,
which has laid out jurisprudence on human rights and humanitarian law, but noted also that the
sources of human rights abuses are varied, and include paramilitary groups, guerrilla forces and
the State’s armed forces. Uruguay recommended that Colombia (a) expedite the process initiated
under the Justice and Peace Law passed in 2005 with regard to accelerating the demobilization of
paramilitary chiefs and combatants. It stated that the Organization of American States mission in
charge of oversight had identified over 20 such groups. Uruguay also recommended that
Colombia (b) make every effort to achieve an agreement with the guerrilla groups in order to
achieve peace, as had been attempted in the past; (c) demobilize, within the guerrilla and the
paramilitaries, children combatants, who have been forcibly recruited; (d) give strict orders to
security forces to not make mistakes by qualifying as “terrorists” those who are actually human
rights defenders and members of non-governmental organizations. This false confusion has been
promoted from very high levels, with tragic consequences.
61.
The Russian Federation asked about the main obstacles encountered in combating
poverty and about additional steps to ensure the right to decent standards of living, particularly
given the present conditions of the world financial crisis. It asked about measures taken to
effectively defend the rights of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities and if cooperation
between the Government and non-governmental organizations representing indigenous peoples
had been established.
62.
Replying to the issues raised in the discussion, the delegation of Colombia noted that the
General Attorney’s Office is part of the judiciary, is independent of the executive and is
responsible for investigating crimes. With regard to procedural guarantees, it further noted that
the Office has oversight over judges. Colombia has also set forth mechanisms and norms into
domestic legislation to safeguard rights and due process for victims. The accusatory system has
made it possible to expedite judicial proceedings. The General Attorney’s Office counts with the
National Unit of Prosecution for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, with
offices in 13 cities and 100 prosecutors in the territory. The Government extended coverage to
better respond to victims�� needs. This work benefited from the cooperation of OHCHR and
ICRC, and other international organizations. Colombia stressed that ongoing dialogue with civil
society and these organizations has led to the development of investigations on cases which
affect particularly vulnerable peoples.
63.
With regard to domestic violence, the delegation indicated that there are special centres
for these victims. It stated that, on 10 November 2008, memorandum 0117 was passed, adopting
a protocol to investigate cases of sexual violence in the context of armed conflict. The strategy
used for dealing with these investigations involved overcoming historic and cultural
discrimination patterns, specific conditions of vulnerability of women, and special conditions
referring to this kind of violence.
64.
With regard to the recruitment of minors, Colombia reported that a special group of
prosecutors was created in 2008 within the National Unit for Human Rights and that 141 cases
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