WUNRN
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http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat.htm - Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
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Colombia |
10
Apr 1985 |
8
Dec 1987 |
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http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disappearance-convention.htm - Convention for
the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance
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Colombia |
27
Sep 2007 |
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Colombia - 4 Murdered Sisters -
Missing 10 Years -
Torture - Extrajudicial Killings by
Paramilitary
Ten years ago, on 1 January 2000, in the
On 7 July 2010, four white coffins adorned with flowers and
portraits were placed atop a large table. This was a rather unusual
ceremony, which experts said was meant to close the cycle of bereavement caused
by the enforced disappearance of four young women. According to their family,
10 years after their disappearance, torture and murder, and in the midst of
immense pain, their dignity was returned to them, at the United Nations Human
Rights office in
Six months ago, a Colombian prosecutor reported that a mass
grave had been exhumed by the Attorney General’s office. The coordinates for
the site had been provided during the depositions of two former paramilitaries,
who aimed to benefit from their cooperation and gave details on where to find
the remains of the Galarraga sisters.
After digging up over 100 clandestine graves with their own
hands and handing over the human remains to the Attorney General’s Office,
Nieves, the mother of the young women, their sister Nancy and their four
children were relieved that their wait was finally ended. Their pain, however,
continues. Nieves says that she is tired of suffering. She cries and says that
her daughters’ dignity has been returned to them, because everyone now knows
that they were happy, good, and hard-working young women. She remains angry
that after their disappearance no one did anything. And she asks that justice
be done.
Enforced disappearances occur when, with the involvement of
State authorities, a person is forcibly removed from public view and his or her
whereabouts is intentionally undisclosed. As a consequence, victims are placed
outside the protection of the law. In most cases, the only verifiable
information provided will relate to the circumstances in which the victim was
last seen alive and free.
Nieves asks for help. She wants her grandchildren to have an
education but doesn’t have enough money to send them to school. She worked all
her life. She had come to
“They felt powerful in front of the innocent girls: slitting
their throats, raping them”, repeated Nieves as she looked at the coffins.
The UN Human Rights office in
“It is very sad to receive the remains of these young women,
but at the same time it's an honour to receive your family in this office. We
understand your pain and sympathize with you. We express our solidarity and
join together in demanding justice for the serious human rights violations
committed by paramilitary groups”, said Christian Salazar, head of OHCHR in
After over 40 years of armed conflict, there is no exact
figure of enforced disappearances in
The ceremony to deliver the mortal remains of the Galarraga
sisters ended with white and red roses in commemoration of all the missing
women and men in