José Vicente Murillo Tobo
José Vicente Murillo Tobo is the leader of Movimiento Político de Masas Social y Popular del Centro Oriente de Colombia (Political Movement of Social and Popular Masses of the Centre East of Colombia), national spokesperson for the Cumbre Agraria, Campesina, Étnica y Popular (Agrarian, Peasant, Ethnic and Popular Summit), and member of the Congreso de los Pueblos (Congress of Peoples). Movimiento Político de Masas Social y Popular del Centro Oriente de Colombia is a campesino organisation which struggles for land rights and for the rights of marginalised persons, such as indigenous and afro-descendent people, in the central-eastern region of Colombia. Cumbre Agraria, Campesina, Étnica y Popular has its origins in the agricultural strikes which took place in Colombia in 2013, due to the low prices of agrarian commodities in the international market. The Summit gathers different indigenous, afro-descendent, campesino and popular movements in order to propose a new model to strengthen their rights and work. Congreso de los Pueblos is a social movement which brings together different sectors and social actors. Since its launch in 2010, it has had a prominent role in social mobilisations in Colombia, such as the agricultural strikes of 2013, 2014 and 2016.
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.
