A/HRC/43/51/Add.1 differentiated, preventive and collective approach adapted to the traditional forms of selfgovernment and self-protection of indigenous and Afro-Colombian defenders. The Special Rapporteur received complaints about the bodyguard protection schemes. The National Protection Unit does not recognize indigenous, Maroon and campesino guards as forms of self-protection. There have also been reports of cases in which the proposed escorts were former police or paramilitary personnel, and others in which the assigned escort was changed despite the defenders’ objections. 59. The Special Rapporteur applauds the Government’s decision to renew and restructure the National Protection Unit’s protection programme in response to the conclusions of the Covenant for Life (the third commitment) and in line with the timely action plan and the priorities expressed by civil society in the participatory process through which it is being implemented. These efforts could fail if the National Protection Unit is not provided with the necessary budget to carry out its programme and implement the reforms. The Director of the National Protection Unit has publicly denounced the lack of budgetary resources for the programme as of June 2019. 82 V. The Ombudsman’s Office 60. The Ombudsman’s Office is the national human rights institution in Colombia. Since 1991 it has had A status in recognition of its full compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). 83 Its constitutional mandate includes the promotion, protection and defence of human rights and the receipt of complaints from citizens in this area. Although its Strategic Plan 2017–202084 does not make specific reference to human rights defenders, the Office plays a critical role in their public recognition and protection. 61. The early warning system of the Ombudsman’s Office has warned of the high risk faced by defenders through risk report 010-17 (in 277 municipalities) and early warning No. 026-18 (in 322 municipalities). 85 Between 1 March 2018 and 17 May 2019, the Ombudsman’s Office recorded an increase in conduct that violated the rights of defenders (196 murders and 1,351 threats and other attacks). 86 In addition, it identified new risk factors for defenders, mainly difficulties in inter-agency coordination and the reform of protection mechanisms and risks associated with the 2018 and 2019 elections. 62. The Ombudsman’s Office also issued 140 early warnings in 2018 and 39 in the first half of 2019 concerning the situation of defenders and possible and imminent attacks against them. The effectiveness of these warnings is increasingly compromised by the poor response of the authorities and institutions responsible for taking action. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, forums such as the Intersectoral Commission for Rapid Response to Early Warnings do not have methods in place for responding rapidly to the risk scenarios identified in early warnings. The Ombudsman’s Office also plays an important role in monitoring, documenting and reporting murders, threats and other attacks against human rights defenders, in accordance with its constitutional mandate. VI. Role of non-State actors 63. The Special Rapporteur has received information on the negative impact of the actions of international and national public and private companies operating in Colombia on many of the communities affected by their projects, and on the abuses faced by defenders in these contexts. Between 2015 and 2018, at least 115 incidents were registered, including acts of intimidation, stigmatization, criminalization, forced displacement and 82 83 84 85 86 GE.19-22542 www.hoydiariodelmagdalena.com.co/archivos/195994. It has recently been reaccredited with A status, https://nhri.ohchr.org/EN/Documents/Status%20 Accreditation%20Chart%20(04%20March%202019.pdf. Adopted by resolution No. 194 of 2017 of the Ombudsman’s Office. Early warning No. 026-2018 of the Ombudsman’s Office, pp. 22–27. Ombudsman’s Office, Informe de Seguimiento a la Alerta Temprana 026-18, August 2019, pp. 7–10. 15