Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was a member of the Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes) and the Proyecto Colombia Nunca Más (Never Again Project of Colombia). In particular, he investigated crimes against humanity allegedly committed by state agents throughout Colombia, in addition to accompanying victims of such violations, and was involved in the 'Campaña permanente contra la brutalidad policial, por la garantía de los derechos humanos y el desmonte del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD)' (Permanent campaign against police brutality, for the guarantee of human rights and the disbandment of the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron). He was also a member of the Congreso de los Pueblos (Peoples' Congress), a social and political movement that opposes the effects of economic policies, such as extractive policies with military backing that lead to displacement, confiscation of land, environmental degradation and destruction of communities in Colombia. The Peoples' Congress is a member organisation of the National Agrarian, Peasant, Ethnic, and Peoples’ Summit.
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.
