Statement on Violence during Social Protests in Colombia

CIEL condemns the use of violence by Colombian police and security forces against peaceful protesters, noting that at least 19 people have died. The statement highlights a long-term pattern of violence against Indigenous Peoples and environmental defenders protecting land and water rights, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. CIEL specifically references reports of security forces opening fire on protesters in Cali and urges the Colombian government and international community to ensure the respect of human rights, including the right to life and peaceful assembly.

• Protests across Colombia have been 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 experienced long-term harassment, intimidation, and violent reprisals while defending rights to water, land, and livelihoods in Colombia.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the daily precarity for Colombians, specifically making access to health care and food more tenuous.
• 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 the city of Cali.

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} }