Colombia
Human Rights Training for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers, May 2010
The International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) successfully launched the Spanish translation of ‘Human Rights in the Administration of Justice: A Manual for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers’ in Colombia with two workshops focussing on the independence of the legal profession and due process guarantees, which took place between 17th – 21st May 2010. The first workshop took place in Bogota at the Pontifica Universidad Javeriana for twenty judges, prosecutors and public defenders and included Professor Carlos Ayala Corao, IBAHRI Council Member and former President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as the international expert trainer. The second took place in Popayan in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and UNODC as part of the British Embassy funded [Combating Impunity] Project for fifty judges, prosecutors and public defenders. This project is the first time the Spanish translation of the Manual, which was developed in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been used in Latin America.
- Press release
- Download ‘Human Rights in the Administration of Justice: A Manual for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers’ in English or Spanish from our Training page.
Technical advice, 2009
The IBAHRI is currently providing technical advice to Colombian parliamentarians and lawyers regarding the establishment of a national bar association. The IBAHRI programme lawyer conducted a scoping mission to the country in June, with a view to assessing the need and planning future projects.
Fact-finding mission, 2007
In March 2007, the IBAHRI sent a high-level delegation comprised of experts combining knowledge and practical experience working with international human rights law, international humanitarian law, Colombian constitutional law and forensic anthropology to Colombia.
The delegation analysed the capacity of institutions and personnel responsible for delivering an effective remedy for victims of grave human rights violations such as disappearances and torture, resulting from the ongoing internal armed conflict in Colombia. Following this, the IBAHRI produced a report in collaboration with the British Embassy.
Colombia: IBAHRI and British Embassy Report states urgent assistance required to ensure effective remedy for grave human rights violations (October 2007)
- Download the report in Spanish
- Read the press release in English
Training, 2006
In June 2006, the HRI conducted a series of training workshops in collaboration with the British Embassy in Colombia on the rule of law and the practical implementation of fair trial standards. The project was funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The sessions focused on combating torture and disappearances and aimed to challenge problems of impunity in Colombia. The workshops took place in Bogotá and Medellín and were attended by judges, lawyers, prosecutors, public defenders and attorney generals from across the region.
The main objectives of the workshops were:
- to build the capacity of judicial and prosecutorial systems in Colombia with an emphasis on the current problem related to disappearances and torture
- to raise trial standards, particularly in cases related to torture and disappearances
- to sensitise judges, lawyers, prosecutors and the public to human rights violations and the need for fair trials
- to build confidence in the administration of justice in Colombia
Training was based around the UN/IBA manual, 'Human Rights in the Administration of Justice' and the FCO/University of Essex manual, 'Combating Torture: A Manual for Judges and Prosecutors'.
- Click here to download a copy of the UN/IBA training manual.
T R A I N I N G
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- The IBAHRI conducts training in countries throughout the world. For more information about training we have conducted, click here.
- To browse our work by activity, click here.
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For further information about our work in Colombia contact hri@int-bar.org