A/HRC/43/3/Add.3 E. Children 84. OHCHR observed an increase in the use of children by criminal groups and other violent groups, as well as their forced recruitment by ELN in Antioquia, Arauca, Caquetá, Chocó, Guaviare, Meta and Norte de Santander. In addition to the abuses and violations these children experienced, this exposes them to grave risks arising from military and police actions against these groups. OHCHR documented the case of a 15-year-old boy who had been killed during an operation against an ELN commander conducted in Antioquia on 29 June. OHCHR also documented the killing of three girls and four boys in the context of military bombings against other violent groups 68 in Caquetá and Guaviare on 30 August. OHCHR also recorded the killing of 19 children (16 boys and 3 girls) by criminal groups in Antioquia, Caquetá, Nariño and Norte de Santander. F. Rights of LGBTI persons 85. Despite legislation and jurisprudence protecting their rights, violence and discrimination against LGBTI persons continued. Between January and November 2019, non-governmental organizations reported the killing of 45 LGBT persons. 69 In its 2018 report, the National Institute of Forensic Medicine recorded 45 killings of LGBT persons and 237 cases of sexual violence against individuals belonging to the LGBT community. 70 Over 34 per cent of victims were lesbians, 33.75 per cent were gay men and 22.36 per cent were bisexual women.71 OHCHR documented the killing of a bisexual woman human rights defender that occurred on 16 May in Ocaña, Norte de Santander. The victim had previously received threats related to her sexual orientation. OHCHR also documented two cases that occurred in Cesar and La Guajira, where a total of seven victims were physically abused, humiliated and threatened with rape, by police officers. VIII. Right to peaceful assembly 86. In late November, a campaign of social protests was initiated across Colombia. While these were predominantly peaceful, there were isolated instances of violence against the police, public and private infrastructure, and protesters. Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Neiva, Pasto and Popayán saw the largest protests, yet protests also took place in rural areas. The social movements leading the campaign continued as the present report was being finalized; OHCHR presents the following information related to its observation of protests from 21 November to 12 December. 87. Some members of the police’s mobile anti-riot squad (ESMAD) did not comply with international norms and standards on the use of force. Previously, OHCHR had explicitly expressed concerns regarding ESMAD rules of engagement. 72 OHCHR documented what appeared to be the arbitrary deprivation of life of an 18-year-old student in Bogotá by an ESMAD agent armed with a 12-gauge rifle loaded with a bean bag. Protesters in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín suffered ocular or cranial injuries owing to beatings or to impacts from projectiles shot by security forces. According to the Ministry of Health, between 21 and 26 November at least 36 protesters and 4 members of the security forces suffered injuries that required hospitalization. 88. Throughout the course of the protests, some police officers also reportedly perpetrated acts that may amount to ill-treatment and torture of protesters, including forced nudity, death threats with racist undertones, and repeated beatings. Some protesters were allegedly arrested and beaten by members of the police, taken to police stations, and forced to admit to violent behaviour and to pay fines. In Bogotá, OHCHR documented a case 68 69 70 71 72 See para. 9 above. Colombia Diversa, Sistema de Información de Violencia contra Personas LGBT – Sin Violencia LGBT. The data do not include intersex persons. This institution does not take into account intersex persons. Available from www.medicinalegal.gov.co/documents/20143/386932/Forensis+2018.pdf/be4816a43da3-1ff0-2779-e7b5e3962d60. A/HRC/25/19/Add.3, para. 80. 15