COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Serious threats to women leaders and their families

CPTnet
20 February 2013
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Serious threats to women leaders and their families

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is gravely concerned
about the safety of leaders of the Women’s Popular Organization (Organización
Femenina Popular, OFP) and their families. OFP National Director Yolanda
Becerra and Regional Coordinator Gloria Amparo Suárez have been threatened with
violence against them and their children.

The OFP, one of CPT Colombia’s partners, has defended
women’s rights in the Magdalena Medio region for forty years. As part of their
work they have publicly denounced both state and illegal armed actors’ violations
against women. Because of this work OFP leaders have suffered numerous threats;
several have been forced to flee to other cities for their protection.

On 11 February 2013 a man came to the office
of the Women’s Popular Organization asking for information about the high
school diploma program for adults. After speaking with Suárez, he
asked her “Why don’t you stick with this instead of f***ing around at the
national level and causing a commotion?” (¿Por qué no se dedican
a esto en vez de estar jodiendo a nivel nacional y estar formando alborotos?)

	photo courtesy Kairos Canada Yolanda Becerra, OFP director (center), and Gloria Amparo Suarez (right) at the 2012 Women’s Tribunals in Colombia.

The man then asked Suárez if she knew where
her children were. He showed her his mobile phone and said “we do”, then showed
her pictures of her sons. He also showed her a picture of Becerra. The picture
showed her getting out of a car, which she uses as part of the government’s
protection program. He said “Tell Becerra […] we know all of her
movements. So, now that you know, stop this sh** and be quiet because we do
not want to have to f*** with you.” (Dígale a Becerra […]
que sabemos todos sus movimientos, así que ya saben, paren esa mierda y
calladitas que no las queremos joder.)

Your swift action can save lives! Please
write a short message without delay. Thank you for raising your voice to protect Gloria, Yolanda, their families and their
colleagues.

Please send an email to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon via the Colombian Embassy or
Consulate in your country or region:

Canada – send the letter
via
Mr. César Felipe González Hernández, Chargé d’Affaires
Embassy of Colombia
360 Albert Street, Suite 1002
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7
Canada 
Fax: 613-230-4416
Email: ministro@embajadacolombia.ca

United States – send the letter via
Ms. Claudia Cuevas, Second Secretary, Human Rights and Minorities
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Place, NW
Washington DC 20008
USA
FAX: 202-232-8643  ext. 266
Email: ccuevas@colombiaemb.org

Other countries – See https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/node/3606

for physical and email addresses of the nearest consulate or embassy.

1. Start with Dear
   President Santos / Estimado Sr. Presidente.
2. Describe briefly
   who you are or where you are writing from.
3. Express great concern
   for the safety of Gloria Amparo Suárez and her children, Yolanda Becerra, and
   other members of OFP after the threats against them.
4. Ask President Santos to
   arrange for the kinds of protection they request.
5. Urge him to order a
   full and impartial investigation into the threats, to publish the results and
   to bring those responsible to justice.
6. Please note that Colombia
   has free trade agreements with the United States, Canada, the European Union
   Free Trade Association, the European Union and South Korea. Citizens of these
   countries or blocks are encouraged to mention the expectation that in light of
   this relationship, any such threat against human rights defenders will be
   treated as a matter of the highest priority.
7. Ask for a reply
   to let you know what steps have been taken.