Jackeline Rojas Castañeda

On 9 November 2011, the home of human rights defenders Ms Jackeline Rojas Castañeda and Mr Juan Carlos Galvis was forcibly entered by two unknown armed individuals.

Further Information

The assailants threatened to kill Jackeline Rojas Castañeda's daughter, then bound and gagged Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, using spray paint to assault her and to deface the house.

Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, who was nominated for the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk in 2007, is the coordinator and legal representative of the Organización Femenina Popular – OFP (Popular Women's Organisation) in South Bolivar, Colombia. The OFP works to empower women and those who say no to war and violence.

Juan Carlos Galvis, the husband of Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Union of Food Industry Workers (SINALTRAINAL) and a leading member of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia – CUT (Colombian Confederation of Workers).

On 9 November 2011, at approximately 9 pm, two unknown individuals, dressed in black and wearing motorcycle helmets which covered their faces, forcibly entered the home of the human rights defenders in the Recreo area of the city of Barrancabermeja. It is reported that one of the assailants held a gun to the head of Jackeline Rojas Castañeda's daughter, took her to another room and threatened to shoot her if Jackeline Rojas Castañeda tried to call for help. The other assailant then took Jackeline Rojas Castañeda to another room, bound and gagged her, and asked her for the whereabouts of her son and her husband. The assailants then proceeded to search the house, while defacing the walls and photographs with spray paint, before spraying the face, hair and clothes of the human rights defender with paint. They stole two laptop computers, USB memory sticks, cellular phones and some documents before departing the scene.

Minutes after the incident was reported by Jackeline Rojas Castañeda's son, officials of the Technical Investigative Body of the Public Prosecutor's Office (CTI) arrived at the house and examined the scene. On 10 November 2011, Jackeline Rojas Castañeda officially reported the break-in, assault, threats and burglary to the Public Prosecutor's Office, however, the officials claimed that there was insufficient evidence to investigate all of the allegations.

Earlier on 9 November 2011, a demonstration had been held by the workers of Barrancabermeja, including the members of SINALTRAINAL, outside the premises of the Ecopetrol Refinery.

Both Jackeline Rojas Castañeda and Juan Carlos Galvis have been subjected to assassination attempts, death threats and intimidation in the past, and Jose de Jesus Rojas Castañeda, former committee member of OFP and brother of Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, was killed by paramilitaries in 2003.

Front Line believes that the break-in, robbery, assault and threats against Jackeline Rojas Castañeda and Juan Carlos Galvis are directly related to their legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity and security of Jackeline Rojas Castañeda, Juan Carlos Galvis and their family.