Historically Been Very Lenient.pdf

Colombia is a constitutional, multiparty republic with a government that generally maintained effective control over security forces, despite credible reports of human rights abuses by security forces and armed groups. Significant human rights issues included unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, rape, and abuse of women and children, as well as violence against Afro-Colombian and indigenous persons, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons. The government took steps to investigate and prosecute officials who committed human rights abuses, but some cases experienced long delays. Armed groups, including dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, continued to operate and commit human rights abuses and violent crimes. The government investigated these actions and prosecuted those responsible to the extent possible. There were reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government or its agents, with 28 cases of intentional deaths of civilians committed by state agents reported from January 1 to August 26. Police officers killed multiple civilians during nationwide protests, with 25 civilian deaths linked to police, including 18 deaths committed with live ammunition. The Attorney General's Office opened investigations into 28 members of the police for alleged homicides committed during the protests, and two police officers were formally charged with homicide.