Government recognises only 21% of activist murders registered by human rights groups
Although the figures differ significantly, the different sources agree on the most violent region for social activists, with the government registering more killings in the southwest region of Cauca than anywhere else, followed by Norte de Santander, Chocó and Putumayo.
The Colombian government has acknowledged only around a fifth of the number of murdered social activists registered by national human rights organisations in 2020, as shown by official findings released on 22 February.
While the Institute for Studies in Development and Peace (INDEPAZ) registered a shocking 310 social activists murdered in 2020 – including indigenous leaders, trade unionists, environmental defenders, peasant leaders, women’s righta advocates, LGBT activists and so on – the government has put the year’s figure at 66, just over 21 per cent of INDEPAZ figure, with 63 others awaiting verification. Even in t