A/HRC/13/72 I. Introduction 1. On 29 November 1996, the Government of Colombia and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) agreed on the establishment of an office in Colombia of OHCHR (“OHCHR-Colombia”). This agreement was extended, with no changes, until 30 October 2010. 2. In the framework of its mandate, OHCHR-Colombia observes the situation of human rights and international humanitarian law in order to assist authorities in the development and application of policies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights, and submits analytical reports to the High Commissioner. The present report covers 2009 and focuses on a number of priority issues, which were regularly discussed with the Government. 3. In 2009, Colombia demonstrated a high level of openness towards international mechanisms for the protection of human rights. Upon invitation of the Government, visits were made by four special rapporteurs: (a) the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (8–18 June); (b) the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (22–27 July); (c) the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (7–18 September); and (d) the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers (7–16 December).1 4. The Deputy High Commissioner visited Colombia between 28 November and 4 December 2009 to participate in the Second Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention). She held meetings with the Vice-President, ministers and high-level public officials, representatives of civil society organizations and the international community. She travelled to Putumayo for a first-hand observation of the local challenges to human rights and international humanitarian law. 5. Three treaty bodies analysed the situation in the country: the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (21 and 22 April 2009), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (12 and 13 August), and the Committee against Torture (10 and 11 November).2 The Government also underwent the universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council in March, and on 19 August the Secretary-General presented to the Security Council the first report on the situation of children in armed conflict in Colombia pursuant to resolution 1612 (2005).3 6. The main challenge for 2010 is to advance in the effective implementation of the recommendations emanating from these reviews and all previous pending recommendations of the High Commissioner, a process in which OHCHR-Colombia offers its cooperation and advice. II. Context 7. The full realization of human rights in Colombia continues to be affected by a complex internal armed conflict, which is exacerbated by organized violence, particularly 1 2 3 4 Colombia was the most visited country in 2009 by special procedures mandate holders. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Human Rights Committee formulated their lists of issues to be addressed in the review of the periodic reports of Colombia. The actual review of those reports will take place in May and July 2010, respectively. Document S/2009/434. GE.10-11819