Social leader and human rights defender in the region of Barrancabermeja, Santander and Magdalena Medio. His vocation has been to protect, promote and guarantee the human rights of families who are victims of the armed conflict, in the whole area of land restitution and the defence of health, as well as human rights defenders and social leaders who are in a state of defencelessness as a result of the daily violence in his country, his region of Magdalena Medio and his district of Barrancabermeja. Throughout his career as a human rights defender, he has faced threats, monitoring, displacement, persecution, harassment and accusations by illegal armed groups.
Currently, at the Corporación Integrada para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Sociales, Políticos, Políticos, Culturales, Ambientales y Empresariales de Colombia - CORPOINDH, his work focuses on working hand in hand with communities affected by the armed conflict, providing support, advice and accompaniment in the process of land restitution. It is also dedicated to raising awareness of the health problems faced by these communities, fighting for access to quality health services and respect for their rights, and liaising with national, departmental and municipal entities and authorities.
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.
