A/HRC/4/48
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16.
The Office of the Vice-President, in a joint exercise with the OHCHR Office in
Colombia, took the lead in work with State institutions aimed at progress in following up the
recommendations made by the High Commissioner in her previous reports. As a result of this
process, a methodology was established defining institutional responsibilities, actions and a
timetable with indicators of progress, thus laying the foundation for a joint evaluation of
achievements and difficulties, and adopting the appropriate measures for strengthening these
institutions. This will allow the OHCHR Office in Colombia to establish relevant courses of
technical cooperation.
17.
The Colombian State has taken a fundamental step in the area of human rights by
initiating the development of a National Plan of Action on Human Rights and International
Humanitarian Law, in conjunction with civil society, with the technical support and cooperation
of the OHCHR Office in Colombia, and with the support of the Governments of Sweden and
Spain. In September, a coordination body was established, comprising representatives of the
Government, the control organs and civil society, and adopted its rules of procedure.
18.
In 2006, 651 municipalities prepared plans of action on human rights and IHL. Of
these, 516 are incorporated in the municipal development plans. Likewise, 31 departments
adopted human rights plans, which form part of their respective development plans.
19.
The Government, in accordance with the recommendations of the High Commissioner,
has announced its decision to work towards a reform of the provisions currently in force
regarding the intelligence services, including the review of the relevant files, in order to ensure
that they are fully compatible with the principles of the rule of law and to check that the names
of human rights defenders and institutions active in this area are not included without
justification. The Procurator General’s Office presented a proposal for setting up clear legal
parameters to prevent any unjustified inclusion of information in military, police or security files
and guaranteeing timely rectification of any inaccurate information these may contain.
20.
In the area of the administration of justice, worthy of note are the adoption of a policy for
fighting impunity,4 and the announcement by the Government of a substantial reform of the
military criminal justice system. With the support of the European Union and the OHCHR
Office, a programme is being implemented to strengthen the judicial branch, particularly the
Attorney-General’s Office, thereby helping to reduce levels of impunity.
21.
Substantial efforts are still needed in order to overcome impunity. Some judicial
decisions stand out as important steps in preventing it, such as the opening of investigations by
the Supreme Court of members of Congress for their alleged links with paramilitaries, and the
prosecution by the Attorney-General’s Office of a former governor and a former
Congresswoman on the same charge. That Office also made progress in the prosecution of seven
members of the Unified Action Group for Personal Liberty (GAULA) of the army’s Second
Brigade, based in Barranquilla, for the killing of six people in a false anti-kidnapping operation,
and of five members of La Popa de Valledupar army battalion for the execution of an indigenous
4
CONPES (National Council for Economic and Social Policy) document No. 3411,
March 2006.
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