
CURRENT SITUATION
For several months, protests against the tax reform (and not only) have continued on a regular basis in various cities of the country. The Personería of Bogotà (i.e. the supervisory body of the various territorial bodies, which is in charge of the defense and protection of Human Rights) observed and denounced irregular procedures of the ESMAD (special anti-riot forces) during the protests at the end of August.
During his visit to Colombia, Monsignor Duffé (Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development) declared that the demonstrations were “an expression of desperation, a clear "no" to political and economic inequalities, corruption and violence against the poor, contempt for young people, workers and representatives of the civil society”.
The situation in various rural areas of the country is no less serious, because the presence of many illegal armed groups determines conditions of great vulnerability for the civilian population, forcing thousands of people to displacement.