Social leader and human rights defender working in the regions of Barrancabermeja, Santander and Magdalena Medio to protect, promote and guarantee the human rights of families who are victims of the armed conflict, the general population, especially children, young people and adolescents, and other human rights defenders and social leaders at risk as a result of the violence that is experienced on a daily basis in his country.
He currently leads, as director, the Corporación Integrada para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Sociales, Políticos, Políticos, Culturales, Ambientales y Empresariales de Colombia - CORPOINDH developing functions such as reporting, policy supervision, complaints and denunciations management, advocacy and awareness raising, collaboration and coordination, audits and monitoring, crisis and emergency response, ethical leadership, relations with municipal, departmental and national entities and authorities, and relations with international human rights organisations.
He is the beneficiary of precautionary measures granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), through Resolution No. 33/2023.
HRDs in Colombia work in a violent and unsafe environment. They are subjected to threats, intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, physical assaults, torture, killings, illegal searches of their homes and offices and stigmatisation as a result of their activities in defence of human rights. The perpetrators of these abuses are frequently paramilitary groups, many of whom have links to the government or security services, or armed opposition groups. The continued frequent and severe threats and attacks against HRDs around the country contradict government claims of paramilitary demobilisation.
HRDs at risk in Colombia come from a broad range of different backgrounds, including: trade unionists, indigenous leaders, afro-colombian leaders, activists working with internally displaced persons and on land issues, women's rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, students and youth activists, church workers, LGBTI and HIV activists.
