A/HRC/4/48 page 4 Introduction 1. The agreement signed in 1996 by the Colombian Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to set up an Office in Colombia was extended by President Uribe until October 2007, while the Office’s mandate of observation, advice, cooperation and dissemination was fully maintained.1 2. The present report, based on Human Rights Council decision 2/102, covers the year 2006 and is accompanied by three annexes: representative cases of human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law; situation of groups in a condition of particular vulnerability and discrimination; and activities of the OHCHR Office in Colombia. 3. During 2006, the Colombian Government and the OHCHR Office agreed to establish permanent mechanisms for dialogue in order to strengthen collaboration on the various dimensions of the mandate, particularly prevention, protection of human rights and the eradication of the factors that give rise to violations. I. GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE COUNTRY, EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT, AND PROSPECTS OF PEACE 4. During 2006, the internal armed conflict, together with drug trafficking and organized crime, continued to be among the main factors affecting the lives of Colombians, disrupting democratic institutions and hindering socio-economic development. The conflict also continued to be one of the most important causes of human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL). It was also noted that the State continues to show weaknesses in the reduction of the existing impunity concerning human rights violations, although new commitments were made to overcome this situation. 5. In 2006, the Government’s military offensive against the illegal armed groups continued, aimed primarily against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People’s Army (FARC-EP), and to a lesser extent against the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the new illegal armed groups formed by demobilized or rearmed paramilitaries. The FARC-EP focused 1 In 1996 the Commission on Human Rights requested that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights establish an Office in Colombia, considering the invitation extended by the country’s Government. The Office was established on 29 November 1996, through an agreement signed by the Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Within the framework of this instrument, the Office in Colombia must observe the human rights and international humanitarian law situation in the context of violence and armed conflict present in the country, with the purpose of advising the authorities in the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and measures for the promotion and protection of human rights. On the initiative of President Uribe, this agreement was extended in September 2002 for an additional period of four years, until October 2006. Based on the observation by the Office in Colombia, between 1998 and 2005 the High Commissioner submitted analytical reports on the situation in the country to the Commission on Human Rights.