12 July 1995

Doc. 7353

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on human rights in Colombia

presented by Mrs ROBERT, Switzerland, LDR

and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       For many years the human rights situation in Colombia has been dramatic. Torture, missing persons, political murders and unlawful arrests are almost daily occurrences. The prime victims are trade-union, rural and indigenous organisations, together with opposition parties and movements. The army, state security forces and paramilitary groups are principally to blame for all this, but no judicial proceedings are instituted against them.

2.       This state of affairs was made plainly apparent during an enlarged European conference held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 9 and 10 February 1995, at which the Council of Europe was represented.

3.       The Assembly considers it the duty of the international community to condemn blatant violations of human rights whenever a state fails to honour the undertakings which it has made in this respect.

4.       It further considers that in such cases international pressure should be brought to bear on the government implicated in order to secure human rights observance within its territory.

5.       The Assembly accordingly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       make every possible move to bring about an improvement in Colombia's human rights situation, and in particular to guarantee the NGOs working in the human rights field and the trade unions freedom of action without their activities having harmful consequences for them;

ii.       ensure that the Council of Europe speaks out in favour of implementing the UN machinery prescribed for these purposes should there not be an appreciable improvement in the situation by the beginning of 1996;

iii.       urge the Colombian authorities to be especially attentive to the difficult circumstances of children;

iv.       invite member states to suspend direct aid to the Colombian Government and to make support for the NGOs on the scene their priority;

Signed:

Robert, Switzerland, LDR

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP

Bartumeu Cassany, Andorra, - (check)

Bartodziej, Poland, EPP

Columberg, Switzerland, EPP

Severin, Romania, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Németh, Hungary, LDR

Goop, Liechtenstein, EPP

Vogt, Liechtenstein, EPP

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left