Lawyer for victims of the armed conflict in Colombia, social leader and human rights defender in the regions of Barrancabermeja, Santander and Magdalena Medio. Since 2021, he has provided legal representation to different families who have lost their loved ones as a result of the violence perpetrated by illegal armed groups in Colombia. In addition, he represents human rights defenders who are part of CORPOINDH.
He currently leads the strategic legal department of CORPOINDH, developing functions of strategic advice, legal team management, legal advice on reports, risk management and compliance, relations with national and international organisations, requests for precautionary measures at the IACHR, humanitarian negotiations, litigation and dispute resolution, development of policies and procedures, analysis of legislation and regulations, education and training on behalf of the corporation and the members of the organisation.
As a consequence of his work in the legal defence of families who are victims of the armed conflict in Colombia and the judicial representation of human rights defenders, he has already received a series of threats that caused his displacement from his place of residence along with his family, becoming a victim of the armed conflict recognised by the Unidad Para la Atención y Reparación Integral a las Victimas (Unit for the Attention and Integral Reparation of Victims).
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.
