Speaking up for your civil rights could be a death sentence
in Colombia. Jose Yimer Cartenga Usuga, a member of the human rights commission of Marcha Partriotica and the Vice President of a local farmer's organization was found stabbed to death in Carepa, Antioquia. The President of a local council, Feiver Ceron, was found dead with
11 bullet wounds in Mercaderes.
So far this year, 25 community leaders and civil society activists have been killed. So far, the Colombian government has not investigated activist deaths. The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Colombia has reported the deaths of 60 human rights defenders in 2016.
Somos Defensores, a leading group in Colombia following activist deaths, reported as many as 80 killings in 2016.
As the number of human rights defenders being killed continues to increase, Colombia's government needs to step in to ensure the protection of their people.
Add your name to the petition and urge the Colombian government to investigate and put an end to activist killings.