IACHR Condemns Lack of Protection for Two Colombia Human Rights Defenders

María del Socorro Mosquera and Mery Naranjo, two Colombian human rights defenders, have been receiving threats against themselves and their family members according to elespectador.com . The Inter-American Commission on Human rights declared in 2004 that preventative measures were necessary to protect these two individuals and the family members of Mery Naranjo. However, harassment and threats continued which prompted a request for provisional measures from the Inter-American Court on Human Rights which was granted July 5th 2006. Three family members of the two women have been killed. Some of attacks include a forced invasion of Mery Naranjo’s house in August of 2010, and a physical assault on the son of Soccorro Mosquera. The IACHR condemns the Colombian government for not taking the necessary preventative measures to protect these human rights defendors. (JR) Read Article