Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued a statement condemning state-sanctioned violence against peaceful protesters in Colombia, which resulted in at least 19 deaths. The organization highlights a history of violence against Indigenous Peoples and environmental defenders and calls for the Colombian government and international community to protect human rights and the right to peaceful assembly.

• Protests across Colombia were met with violence from security forces and police, resulting in at least 19 deaths.
• Indigenous Peoples and defenders of the environment and human rights have historically suffered harassment, intimidation, and violent reprisals while defending rights to water, land, and livelihoods in Colombia.
• Reports from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society partners indicate that security forces and police opened fire on protesters in Cali.
• The COVID-19 pandemic increased the daily precarity for Colombians, specifically making access to health care services and basic food more tenuous.

APA

Zendejas, C. G. (2021). Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/news/statement-on-violence-during-social-protests-in-colombia/

Chicago

Zendejas, Carla García. Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia. Center for International Environmental Law, 2021. https://www.ciel.org/news/statement-on-violence-during-social-protests-in-colombia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Zendejas |first1=Carla García |title=Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=4 May 2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/statement-on-violence-during-social-protests-in-colombia/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{zendejas2021statement, author = {Zendejas, Carla García}, title = {{Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/statement-on-violence-during-social-protests-in-colombia/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }