US Congress to discuss Colombia’s human rights situation

US Congress to discuss Colombia’s human rights situation
posted by Taran Volckhausen
Oct 22, 2013

A human rights commission in the House of the Representatives will hear testimony this Thursday from the United States government, NGOs, think tanks, and members of civil society on the state of human rights in Colombia.

The bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will discuss the ongoing peace talks in Havana, Cuba, between Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC and the government, the development of land restitution programs, and labor rights issues, according to the hearing brief.

“As Colombian and international observers look with hope to the ongoing peace negotiations between the Colombian government and Colombia’s largest guerrilla organization, a number of human rights issues remain critical,” said the hearing brief. “The hearing will address the status of labor rights, obstacles to land restitution efforts, and recommendations on effective mechanisms for transitional justice.”

Since 1985, 4.8 million Colombians have been displaced from their homes, generating the world’s largest population of internally displaced people, according to an investigation performed by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

More:
http://colombiareports.co/u-s-congress-discuss-human-rights-colombia/