'Leave us in peace' - Targeting civilians in Colombia's internal armed conflict

Amnesty International 2008, Anglais, 94 pages

The lives of millions of Columbians continue to be devastated by a conflict which has now lasted for more than 40 years. The government's claim that the country is marching resolutely towards peace does not reflect the reality of continued violence for many Columbians.

At the heart of this report are the stories of Indigenous communities decimated by the conflict, of Afro-descendant families expelled from their homes, of women raped and of children blown apart by landmines. The report also bears witness to the determination and resilience of communities defending their right not to be drawn into the conflict.

A blueprint for finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Colombia was put forward by the UN more than 10 years ago. However, the UN's recommendations have persistently been ignored both by successive Colombian governments and by guerrilla groups. Millions of civilians are continuing to pay the price for this failure.

The report ends with Amnesty International's recommendations. These echo and support the demands and aspirations of the many human rights defenders, community activists and trade unionists continuing to strive for justice, often at great personal cost.