A/HRC/13/72 facilitating an active role of the Procurator General, as previously recommended by OHCHR-Colombia. C. Human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists 22. OHCHR-Colombia has registered cases of, inter alia, killings, threats, arbitrary detentions, sexual offences, break-ins into homes and offices and information theft directed against human rights defenders. These violations have been attributed to members of illegal armed groups that emerged after the paramilitary demobilization and guerrilla groups, in particular FARC-EP, as well as, in some cases, members of security forces. 23. In 2009, there was an increase in intimidation and death threats through pamphlets and e-mail against human rights defenders, social and community leaders, as well as members of marginalized groups. While progress has been made in some investigations, most of the threats remain unaccounted for, and, at times, authorities were quick to dismiss them without prior investigation. 24. Meanwhile, some charges of rebellion, terrorism, defamation and/or slander brought against human rights defenders and journalists who question Government policies or denounce corruption and human rights violations have been promptly investigated. The Attorney General’s Office must act with transparency, impartiality and in a timely manner in every case, regardless of whether a human rights defender is a victim or accused of a crime. 25. Of particular concern are the threats against and killings of trade union members,6 journalists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and those who promote their rights. Similar concern is held for those advocating for the ethno-territorial rights of Afro-Colombian communities and indigenous peoples. Representatives and supporters of victims in the framework of Law 975 (2005), particularly if they advocate for the restitution of stolen lands, were subject to harassment, and even killed, as were peace activists, community leaders and public officials who promote and defend human rights, such as the analysts of the Early Warning System7 and municipal ombudsmen. 26. In the past few years, the Government has invested large amounts of human and financial resources into protection programmes for different groups at risk. This important effort, however, requires better coordination and must be expanded, for instance, to include staff of the Early Warning System, incorporate a gender focus, and expedite and reduce delays between the adoption of protection measures and their implementation. The ongoing transfer of protection schemes to private companies and other related reforms should be made in consultation with beneficiaries, in the understanding that the State obligation to uphold, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of rights within its jurisdiction cannot be delegated. 27. Between April and May 2009, the Government and national networks of human rights, social rights and peace activists agreed on a procedure to discuss the guarantees required by human rights defenders to undertake their work. In April, actively supported by the international community, a national round table was established to this end and a series 6 7 GE.10-11819 Between January and October, the Presidential Programme for Human Rights registered 27 killings of trade unionists, 14 of which were teachers. In the same period, the Unitary Workers Union (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT) reported 37 killings, including 4 women. The Early Warning System, in its Spanish acronym SAT, is a system housed in the Ombudsman’s Office with a mission to produce risk alerts about gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 7