Excmo. Sr. Presidente Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia
Sr. Fiscal General Fabio Espitia Garzón, Attorney General of Colombia
Dear Sirs,
We are extremely concerned for the safety of Danelly Estupiñan, a human rights defender with the organization Black Community Process (PCN) in Buenaventura, Valle de Cauca Department.
Since December 2018 Danelly and her family have been facing weekly surveillance at their home from unknown men who take pictures and videos of their activities. Danelly reported the surveillance to the Office of the Prosecutor, but there was no response. In July the incidences of surveillance increased to twice daily and included not only her home but also all locations she visits.
On July 6 unknown men broke into her home while she was away. Human rights organizations have reported that unknown persons made a payment to kill her. The Black Community Process and other organizations alerted the Prosecutor’s Office about the break-in and the information about Danelly’s life being in danger, requesting immediate action.
The PCN works to defend the rights of the Afro-descendent population. Danelly runs workshops about human rights and collective protection measures in various communities in Buenaventura, as well as implementing campaigns and advocacy actions to protect Afro-descendant communities affected by the development of large infrastructure projects on their territories. Since 2015 Danelly has been a beneficiary of National Protection Unit protection measures from the federal government. During 2018 she was part of the Basque temporary protection program for human rights defenders at risk.
The situation for women human rights defenders in Colombia is critical. Data analysis provided by the organization SISMA Mujer showed that since 2016, there has been a marked increase in killings of women human rights defenders and female social leaders. The groups of womens’ rights defenders that are attacked most frequently are community leaders, territory defenders (mostly indigenous and Afro-descendant), and land claimant leaders.
We believe Danelly Estupiñan is in danger for her life. We strongly urge that you
- conduct a national, thorough, and impartial investigation into the surveillance activities against Danelly and her family, the forced entry into her house, and the reported payment done for her killing; publish the results, and bring those responsible to justice
- coordinate with appropriate authorities to create an environment which enables Danelly to continue her legitimate and important human rights work
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan Szittai Christine Stonebraker-Martínez
Co-Coordinators
copies:
Francisco Santos Calderón, Ambassador of Colombia to the US ~ via fax: 202.232.8643 and email
Rebecca Daley, Human Rights Officer, US Embassy in Colombia ~ via email
Christine Russell, Desk Officer for Colombia, US State Dept ~ via email
Francisco José Eguiguren Praeli, Rapporteur for Colombia and Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights ~ via email, US mail
Margarette May Macaulay, Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent and Rapporteur on the Rights of Women, IAHCR ~ via email, US mail
Amnesty International – Urgent Action Network ~ via email
US Senators Brown & Portman ~ via email
US Representatives Beatty, Fudge, Gibbs, Gonzalez, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Kaptur, Latta, Ryan ~ via email
