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human rights lawyers and defenders in the city of Cali, who have been subjected
to illegal surveillance of their activities while representing victims of
violations, issued a public statement calling on the offices of the Attorney
General and Prosecutor General to investigate this surveillance and the possible
interception and theft of confidential information.14
In this context, human rights lawyers are also at risk of being accused of
being part of criminal and terrorist groups simply for conducting their lawful
professional work representing clients. In 2019 and 2020, Colombian
intelligence agencies carried out surveillance operations on several human
rights organizations that provide legal assistance to opponents of the current
government.15 Lawyers and defenders are in particular danger when
representing clients in sensitive cases such as those dealing with Indigenous
communities’ land rights issues. Lawyers are subjected to intimidation,
death threats and assassination attempts,16 and they may be followed
or have their phones tapped.17 Of particular concern is the use of legal proceedings
to fabricate evidence against lawyers and human rights defenders
as a method of retaliation against them for their work.18
The Day of the Endangered Lawyer has taken place on January 24 since
2009. The day is marked in cities around the world. January 24 was chosen
because on that day in 1977, four lawyers and their co-worker were murdered
in Madrid. This event has become known as the Massacre of Atocha.
Since then, the international coalition for the Day of the Endangered
Lawyer has chosen one country each year to mark the day. In previous
years, the following countries have been featured: Azerbaijan (2021), Pakistan
(2020), Turkey (2019), Egypt (2018), China (2017), Honduras (2016), the
Philippines (2015), Colombia (2014), Basque Country/Spain (2013), Turkey
(2012) and Iran (2010).
In June 2021, the coalition decided to feature Colombia for a second time,
in 2022, because of heightened risks and persecution of human rights
lawyers since 2020.
LRWC’s interventions on situations in countries around the world can be
seen on its website at <www.lrwc.org>.19
ENDNOTES
1. For more information about the Day of the Endangered
Lawyer event in Canada, see: <www.lrwc.
org/colombia-the-day-of-the-endangered-lawyer-
24-january-2022-event/>.
2. Avocats sans frontières Canada & LRWC, “Colombia:
Failure to Fulfill Duties in Response to Attacks on
Lawyers” (written statement to the 26th session of the
UN Human Rights Council, 10 June 2014 to 27 June
2014), online: <www.lrwc.org/wp-content/uploads/
2017/08/26-NGO-89.pdf>.
3. As examples, Jhon Fredy Concha Valbuena was
killed on January 24, 2017, and Paula Rocero was
killed on July 26, 2019. See Law Society of Upper
Canada, letter to President Calderón re: “Murder of
John Fredy Concha Valbuena and attempted murder
of Jorge Enrique Belalcázar Gutierrez” (10 May
2017), online: <docplayer.net/182618069-Re-
murder-of-jhon-fredy-concha-valbuena-andattempted
murder-of-jorge-enrique-belalcazargutierrez.
html>; Colombian Caravana, letter to
President Duque re: “State response to the killing of
local Ombudsman and human rights lawyer Paula
Rocero on 20 May 2019” (26 July 2019), online:
/
/
/
/www.lrwc.org
/26-NGO-89.pdf
/26-NGO-89.pdf
/182618069-Re-murder-of-jhon-fredy-concha-valbuena-and-attempted-murder-of-jorge-enrique-belalcazar-gutierrez.html