A/HRC/10/32 page 5 I. INTRODUCTION 1. This report covers the period between January and December 2008 and focuses on a number of issues that have been considered priorities. OHCHR Colombia nevertheless continues to work on other matters of interest and concern, and these will be the subject of regular follow-up. 2. As reported in 2007, the Government of Colombia and the Office of the High Commissioner agreed to extend the mandate of the Office in Colombia, in its entirety, until 30 October 2010. In compliance with this mandate, OHCHR Colombia continues to assist the authorities in developing policies and programmes to promote and protect human rights, to advise civil society on human rights issues, to observe the situation of human rights and international humanitarian law in the context of the internal armed conflict, and to submit its reports and analyses to the High Commissioner. 3. The High Commissioner visited Colombia from 27 October to 1 November 2008. She met with the President, ministers, and senior public officials in charge of protecting and promoting human rights. She also met with representatives of civil society organizations, including human rights and women’s NGOs, victims’ associations and trade unions. The High Commissioner travelled to Arauca, where she learnt about the regional human rights challenges, meeting with community leaders and civilian and military authorities. The High Commissioner expressed to all her interlocutors her gratitude for the support that OHCHR Colombia has been receiving. She also highlighted the Government’s efforts to promote accountability and respect for human rights within the Armed Forces and to demobilize paramilitary groups. While the High Commissioner noted the increased attention given to victims’ right to truth, justice and reparation, she also expressed concern at the persistence of entrenched human rights challenges. 4. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict visited Colombia from 12 to 14 May 2008. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also visited the country from 1 to 10 October 2008.1 5. On 10 December, Colombia was reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, in the context of the universal periodic review.2 1 2 Other special procedures made unofficial or follow-up visits to the country. Colombia volunteered for the universal periodic review and in its submission of 1 September 2008 the Government made 69 commitments to improve the situation of human rights. At the time of writing the recommendations of the Human Rights Council to the State of Colombia have not been formally published.