Rights progress crucial for Colombia trade deal: Human Rights Watch

Rights progress crucial for Colombia trade deal: Human Rights Watch
Friday, 18 March 2011 14:40
Marguerite Cawley

NGO Human Rights Watch says that moves by U.S. Congress members to ensure that Colombia meets human rights standards before the trade deal is ratified are "critically important," in a statement released Thursday.

Six members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to President Barack Obama Thursday stating that more steps must be taken to improve the human rights situation in Colombia before the president sends the free trade agreement to Congress for approval.

The Americas director at HRW Jose Miguel Vivanco said in response to the letter that, "It is crucial for Colombia to reduce killings and attacks against trade unionists and to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice" and that "These benchmarks include concrete and achievable steps that the Colombian government should take."

HRW highlighted the issue of reducing violence against trade unionists, which has been an ongoing problem in Colombia. According to the NGO, Colombia has the highest documented killings of unionists in the world, with more than 2,800 reported since 1986. Evidence indicates that paramilitary organizations are responsible for the bulk of these deaths.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15000-rights-progress-crucial-for-colombia-trade-deal-human-rights-watch.html