A/HRC/4/48 page 2 Summary The Human Rights Council, by decision 2/102 of 6 October 2006, requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to “continue with the fulfilment of [her] activities, in accordance with all previous decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights, and to update the relevant reports and studies”. In connection with the current question of the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Colombia, a comprehensive annual report (E/CN.4/2006/9) was submitted to the sixty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights pursuant to the President’s statement. The Office of the High Commissioner understands decision 2/102 to preserve the previous annual reporting cycle in respect of this question until otherwise decided by the Council. The present report to the Council accordingly addresses relevant developments in the situation of human rights in Colombia over the past year, and is based on Council decision 2/102. The report contains a general description of the main developments, the evolution of the armed conflict and prospects for peace. It outlines the major advances and challenges of public policies relating to human rights, and gives information on the implementation of some of the recommendations made by the High Commissioner in her previous report. Likewise, it outlines the most significant developments relating to the demobilization and reintegration of members of paramilitary groups. The report presents a general picture of the human rights situation in Colombia. In terms of civil and political rights, it includes information on violations of the rights to life, integrity, freedom, security, due process and judicial guarantees that affected, among other persons, members of the indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, social leaders, human rights defenders, peasants, women, children, trade union members, journalists and displaced persons. Regarding economic, social and cultural rights, it contains general information on the situation of poverty, inequity, unemployment and malnutrition. The international humanitarian law (IHL) situation comprises information based on complaints received about breaches attributed to members of guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and new illegal armed groups, and also members of the security forces. Finally, the report contains information relating to some of the observation, public policy follow-up, advisory, technical cooperation and dissemination activities carried out by the OHCHR Office in Colombia in 2006. With the intention of continuing to contribute to the strengthening of the human rights situation, the observance of IHL and the development of the institutional capacity of the Colombian State, the High Commissioner makes 18 recommendations. They are addressed to the Government, Congress, the Attorney-General’s Office, other State organs, civil society, the international community and the illegal armed groups. The report has three annexes relating to: representative cases of human rights violations and breaches of IHL; situation of groups in a condition of particular vulnerability and discrimination; and activities of the OHCHR Office in Colombia.