COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONCLUDES CONSIDERING REPORT OF COLOMBIA
Press Release
HR/4242
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONCLUDES CONSIDERING REPORT OF COLOMBIA
19951124 GENEVA, 22 November (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its consideration of the third periodic report of Colombia after hearing additional responses to questions it had previously addressed to the delegation.The Colombian delegation informed the Committee that the human rights and economic situation in the Uraba region of Colombia was worsening and would require international cooperation. The Government was seeking the assistance of international organizations because of the dangerous situation prevailing there.
Recalling that the aggravated human rights situation in the Uraba region had resulted in the deaths of 800 persons, an expert noted that social activists including teachers and social workers, as well as the police, had evacuated the region following armed conflicts among rival insurgent groups.
The delegation told the Committee that Colombia had changed its education system to better meet the requirements needed in modernizing teaching methods. Aggressive measures were needed to profoundly improve the educational system. Education was one of the priorities of the Government in its attempts to improve the social infrastructure and enable the equal participation of all citizens in education.
Concerning internally displaced persons, the Government had taken a number of measures to establish a programme of development, but its financial means were insufficient to sustain projects aimed at realizing their resettlement. Those who were displaced because of violence were being assisted at the actual places of resettlement, while those who wished to return to their former homes were being helped to do so.
Regarding violence against street children, prostitutes and homosexuals, the delegation noted that the Government was aware of the seriousness of the problem and had undertaken all necessary measures. Investigations had shown that there was a connivance between death squads attempting to "socially cleanse" such marginalized groups, and some sectors of the security services. The mysterious killings of those persons was concentrated in Bogota and Barranquilla towns. The Government had taken measures against the perpetrators. The use of the corpses of street children by the school of medicine at the University of Barranquilla was also denounced by the Government.
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