A/HRC/43/51/Add.1 2018), it remains high.35 This decrease is in contrast to the increase in the killings of human rights defenders, including social leaders, since 2016, as reported by State sources (Ombudsman’s Office), the United Nations (OHCHR) and civil society (for example, the Somos Defensores programme) (see table). The Special Rapporteur explains that the differences in the figures reported are due to the different methodologies used to document cases. He regrets that the discussion of these differences has diverted attention and efforts from the key issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure a safe and supportive environment for the defence of human rights in Colombia. Human rights defenders killed in Colombia Ombudsman’s Office Year 2019 (as at 30 June)b Total Women OHCHRa Total Somos Defensores Women Total Women 49 10 52 8 59 10 2018 178 14 115 10 155 9 2017 126 18 96 14 106 16 2016 133 16 61 4 80 9 2016–2019 (as at 30 June) 486 58 324 36 400 44 a OHCHR recognizes that the number of murders of human rights defenders it has documented does not represent the total number of cases. b The figures from the Ombudsman’s Office cover the period up to 17 May 2019. 22. The Office of the Presidential Advisor’s report of April 2019 and the recent update thereto 36 highlight a significant decrease in the number of murders of human rights defenders and the number of municipalities affected since President Iván Duque came to power, based on its interpretation of the cases documented by OHCHR.37 Nonetheless, the Special Rapporteur notes that the murder rate remains very high, with 52 murders of human rights defenders verified by OHCHR in 47 municipalities in the first half of 2019. 38 23. The Ombudsman and the Somos Defensores programme documented an increase in the number of threats and cases of intimidation against human rights defenders from 2016 to May 2019.39 The Ombudsman’s Office confirmed that, between March 2018 and May 2019, more than twice as many threats were made compared to 2018 (a 113 per cent increase), primarily against indigenous community leaders and representatives of victims. Threats are made either directly by the aggressors by means of leaflets, telephone calls and WhatsApp messages or through third parties. 24. Human rights defenders, including community leaders and officials from the community action councils and indigenous, Afro-Colombian and campesino leaders, continue to bear the brunt for defending human rights, ethnic rights and land rights and/or for supporting the implementation of peace agreements, particularly crop substitution programmes. The most affected areas in 2018 and 2019 included Cauca, Antioquia, Norte de Santander, Valle del Cauca, Putumayo, Caquetá and Nariño. 40 35 36 37 38 39 40 GE.19-22542 In 2018, the overall homicide rate in Colombia per 100,000 people was 26.2. See also United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Study on Homicide 2019. Office of the Presidential Advisor on Human Rights and International Affairs, Informe de Homicidios contra Líderes Sociales y Defensores de Derechos Humanos 2010-2019 (Report on murders of social leaders and human rights defenders 2010–2019). The updated information is available at: www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/Prensa/2019/Paginas/Actualizaci%C3%B3n-Informe-de-HomicidiosL%C3%ADderes.aspx. OHCHR recognizes that the number of murders of human rights defenders it has documented does not represent the total number of cases. Two cases are in the process of being verified. https://somosdefensores.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/informe-Somos-defensores-ENEROJUNIO-2019-oct-8-web-final.pdf.pdf. Marcha Patriótica, the People’s Agrarian, Campesino and Ethnic Summit, and the Institute for Peace and Development Studies, Todos los nombres, todos los rostros: Informe de derechos humanos sobre 7