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"We are in solidarity with the Colombian people, with Colombian workers, in particular with the organizations that are affiliated to Public Services International.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (08 Oct. 2021) — The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is calling on the Colombian government to implement the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and to honour the demands of the Colombian people.
Together with its Public Services International (PSI) colleagues, NUPGE sent a letter to Colombia’s president and one to its Congress.
Investigation found human rights violations
In solidarity with the Colombian people, NUPGE has previously spoken out against the Duque government’s brutal repression of protests. In the midst of the mobilizations, beginning with the general strike on April 28, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) made a request to conduct a working visit to Colombia, which NUPGE also supported.
The IACHR conducted its visit to Colombia in June. The IACHR confirmed there have been numerous rights violations and issued recommendations.
Put the recommendations into practice: NUPGE
In his letters, Larry Brown, NUPGE President, urged the Colombian government “to accept these observations and put the recommendations into practice, so as to contribute to solving the current social conflict.”
The IACHR called for
- dialogue to overcome the social conflict,
- investigations with due diligence,
- holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations and providing reparations to the victims, and
- the protection of journalists and medical missions.
Listen to the people
Brown also called on the Colombian government “to give the appropriate and accelerated processing to the bills proposed by the National Strike Committee, in order to advance the solutions that the Colombian people are demanding.”
The National Strike Committee has presented a number of proposals, including
- basic emergency income,
- universal free education for all,
- strengthening of the public health system and formalizing employment to tackle the pandemic,
- actions to combat gender-based violence,
- guarantees for the right to peaceful protest, and
- reform of the national police.
Solidarity from the international community
In the letter, Brown expressed NUPGE’s “solidarity with the Colombian people, with Colombian workers, in particular with the organizations that are affiliated to Public Services International.”
NUPGE and other affiliates of PSI are part of the international community watching what is happening in Colombia. We will continue to be in solidarity with the Colombian people and to lift up their demands for reform.