A/HRC/13/72 of discussions took place in approximately half the departments. OHCHR-Colombia welcomes this exercise and the specific commitments reached, and it calls for their prompt implementation by the Government. A number of death threats were received by human rights defenders involved in this exercise. They have yet to be properly investigated. 28. OHCHR-Colombia notes with concern that public officials and military personnel have continued making statements against human rights defenders, accusing or suggesting that their work is contrary to the interests of the State or sympathetic to guerrilla groups. Such statements increase security risks for human rights defenders and can limit their activities, engender self-censorship and deepen the distrust between State and civil society. 29. In this respect, OHCHR-Colombia welcomes regulations issued and statements made by the President, the Vice-President and the Minister of Interior about the legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders.8 High-level officials are encouraged to maintain a consistent and active public discourse in support of human rights defenders and lower-level public officials should follow it. The Government and the Procurator General should apply sanctions to public officials who continue to stigmatize human rights defenders. 30. During her visit in September, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders recognized that the Government had undertaken important efforts supporting human rights defenders, but confirmed that they continue to operate in a nonconducive environment of hostility and fear. 31. Some progress has been achieved in the construction of national plans for human rights. The National Round Table on Guarantees is an important step towards a concerted national action plan on human rights and international humanitarian law. The National Plan for Education on Human Rights, which should be promptly implemented in all departments and municipalities by the Ministry of Education, was launched in November 2009. D. Investigations into alleged links of members of Congress and public officials with paramilitary organizations 32. Since the detention of three members of Congress in November 2006, the number of politicians and public officials investigated for alleged links with paramilitary organizations, or cases of “parapolitica”, continued to increase. By November 2009, there were 93 open cases against members of Congress consisting of 268 elected parliamentarians for the period 2006–2010, from 15 different political parties. As of December 2009, there was a total of 13 convicted persons, 5 acquitted and 9 released due to lack of sufficient evidence to proceed.9 By November 2009, 249 cases had been initiated against 12 governors, 166 mayors, 13 departmental representatives and 58 councillors. 33. Forty-three members of Congress have resigned in order to be investigated by the Attorney General instead of the Supreme Court. In September 2009, however, the Court ruled that it would continue to exercise jurisdiction when the alleged crime is related to their position and function as members of Congress.10 The new jurisprudence should promote a more standardized investigation of these cases. 8 9 10 8 In a public statement made on 17 September 2009, the President acknowledged that “the defense of human rights is a necessary and legitimate action for democracy”. Another five were released after partially completing their sentences. Providence 27032, Álvaro Araujo Castro, Criminal Court of Cassation, Act No. 291, 15 September 2009. GE.10-11819