A/HRC/4/48
page 42
These cases were attributed to members of the FARC-EP, ELN and paramilitary groups.
Information was also received on women victims of extrajudicial executions, enforced
disappearances, torture, ill-treatment and threats, attributed to members of the security forces in
Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Guajira, Nariño and Putumayo. Especially noteworthy is the fact
that the figures for teenage pregnancy and family violence are higher among displaced women
than the national average.
25.
The women who are most often the victims of such acts are those who play leadership
roles or are emotionally involved with members of the security forces or illegal armed groups.
Among the victims of sexual violence are young women and girls.
26.
With regard to the mechanisms established to guarantee the rights of victims to truth,
justice and reparation, it is important to point out that a high percentage of the victims are
women, whose specific circumstances and needs must be taken into account. In this sense,
important steps have been taken by the National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation
to incorporate a gender approach in its work; but there is still a need to expand such efforts when
regulating the participation of the victims in judicial proceedings.
27.
As to the demobilization process, the Government’s programmes for reintegration into
civilian life have yet to implement mechanisms to respond to the specific needs of women, not
only in view of their sex, but also in the light of their age, regional origin, educational level and
background.
28.
Progress was made in enactments relating to the rights of women. A law was passed on
harassment in the workplace; the Observatory on Gender Issues, subordinate to the Presidential
Office on Equity for Women, was formally constituted; and the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was approved.
29.
The Constitutional Court decided in favour of decriminalizing abortion in three specific
cases: (a) when continuation of pregnancy endangers the life or health of the woman; (b) when a
serious malformation of the foetus exists, making life unviable; (c) when the pregnancy is the
result of a sexual act, duly reported, constituting rape, non-consensual sex or sexual abuse,
non-consensual artificial insemination, non-consensual transfer of a fertilized egg or incest. This
decision is in keeping with the recommendations to the Colombian State on the need to review
the criminalization of abortion without exceptions, formulated by human rights treaty bodies.c
Journalists
30.
During 2006 there was an increase, by comparison with 2005, in the number of
complaints regarding threats to journalists in different areas of the country. One of the
media denounced the harassment of its directors and reporters by State security organs.
c
Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee on the fifth periodic report
of Colombia (CCPR/CO/80/COL, para. 13), and of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women on the fourth periodic report of Colombia (A/54/38,
paras. 337-401 and para. 393 in particular).
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