A/HRC/16/22
were represented, and organized other important events to commemorate Human Rights
Day.
105.
In 2010, two satellite offices were opened in Pasto and Villavicencio.
106. OHCHR-Colombia distributed 92,000 copies of publications; issued 37 press
releases and started a campaign on the right to life and restitution of lands, including a radio
commercial that was broadcast more than 1,000 times, among other activities for the
promotion and dissemination of human rights.
V.
Recommendations
107. In order to reach the full realization of human rights and international
humanitarian law in Colombia, it is imperative that the State, illegal armed groups
and civil society at large prioritize the rights of victims and increase efforts to find
ways to achieve lasting and sustainable peace through dialogue and negotiation.
108. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterates all her
previous recommendations that have not been implemented or that have been only
partially implemented and urges the Government to strengthen the implementation of
international recommendations from universal protection mechanisms, such as the
universal periodic review, special procedures and treaty bodies. She encourages the
Government to establish an effective follow-up mechanism for all of them.
109.
In addition, the High Commissioner:
(a)
Reiterates once again the call on all armed actors to fully accept and
abide by international humanitarian law; and firmly insists that illegal armed groups
release all kidnapped persons immediately and unconditionally, stop child
recruitment and use, release all children in their ranks, and desist from using antipersonnel mines;
(b)
Urges all relevant authorities to ensure fast progress, and due process,
on alleged cases of extrajudicial executions attributed to members of security forces:
(i)
The Attorney General should adopt the necessary measures and ensure
availability of staff to promptly investigate all allegations;
(ii)
The military justice authorities should immediately transfer relevant
cases under their jurisdiction to the ordinary justice system, and establish a
mechanism for an independent review and transfer of cases that have been
closed by military criminal judges in the past without proper investigation;
(iii) The Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence should adopt effective
protection programmes for the military personnel who collaborate with the
justice system and should issue messages of unambiguous support to these
persons;
(c)
Reiterates to the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces the need to
issue, as soon as possible, detailed instructions to their personnel in order to ensure
proper attitudes and actions towards sexual violence as indicated herein; and calls on
the Attorney General to adopt a policy for the systematic investigation of cases of
sexual violence and to quickly move forward in the investigation of alleged cases;
(d)
Urges the Government, the Procurator General and Congress to
establish strong mechanisms of democratic control of intelligence services, to move
forward in establishing data protection centres with the highest standards of internal
control and to establish mechanisms to purge intelligence files, and emphasizes the
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