Amnesty International on Tuesday issued a press statement condemning the attack on a Venezuelan human rights defender and asylum seeker, Yendri Velásquez, alongside his companion, Luis Peche, also a Venezuelan-Colombian activist in Bogotá. The statement came after two gunmen opened fire at the pair. The attack comes a year after they fled Venezuela due to political persecution. 

Amnesty International, in solidarity with the activists, stated that:

We strongly condemn the attack against our colleague and friend Yendri Velásquez in Bogotá. Colombian authorities must ensure the prompt and effective access to international protection for Venezuelan nationals like Yendri, and we urge the Colombian government to take decisive action to end the unacceptable situation of lack of protection faced by human rights defenders in the country.

Venezuela has experienced a historic wave of migration since 2018, driven by the country’s deepening political, economic, and social challenges, which contributed to the activists’ flight.

The news of the attack also comes in the backdrop of a history of violence against human rights defenders in Colombia that has been characterized by death threats, telephone surveillance, and kidnapping of family members to intimidate human rights defenders. During Colombia’s armed conflict, the State was often absent or contributed to the problem.

Colombia was named the world’s deadliest country for rights defenders in 2023. Since then, organizations have referred to the unrelenting attacks against rights defenders as indicators of a profound failure in upholding fundamental freedoms. 

Amnesty strongly called for decisive action by the Colombian government to put an end to the unacceptable situation of risk and to guarantee protection for all human rights defenders, including Venezuelans.