The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) issued a report Wednesday on the phenomenon of enforced disappearances in Colombia, and provided recommendations to support the state’s efforts in combating this crime. The committee’s report concluded a 15-day visit to Colombia, during which it held meetings with government authorities, victims, and civil society organizations.
The CED noted that enforced disappearances in Colombia are still ongoing and did not cease with the 2016 peace deal. These occurrences took place throughout the country, with regions under the control of armed groups being the most affected.
The UN committee expressed concerns about the high number of enforced disappearances linked to other criminal activities, such as forced recruitment, human trafficking, and the targeting of journalists and activists. It explained that armed gangs kidnapped children and teenagers outside their schools to forcibly recruit them into their groups, which is prohibited under international human rights law.
The CED also pointed to the rising number of enforced disappearances involving migrants, particularly in areas that are either transit routes to neighboring countries or departure sites, such as the Darién Gap, Norte de Santander, and the island of San Andrés. The committee stressed that an estimated 200,000 individuals have disappeared during migration operations, yet many cases remain unreported due to the lack of a specific registry.
Furthermore, the CED proposed a set of recommendations for Colombian authorities to eradicate enforced disappearances and restore security. According to the UN committee, authorities should enhance search operations and improve investigation and prosecution mechanisms.
Regarding disappearances in the context of migration, the CED recommended increased coordination between Colombia and its neighboring countries to track the disappearances of migrants. Lastly, it stressed the urgency of “moving beyond reactive measures” and adopting “a comprehensive State policy” aimed at preventing enforced disappearances by addressing their root causes and ensuring that they do not happen in the future.
Colombia has endured an internal armed conflict for decades before concluding a peace deal in 2016. However, violence has resurged in recent years as armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), resurfaced in many regions, committing serious abuses against the population and plunging the country into a humanitarian crisis. Earlier this year, human rights groups called for an immediate end to the armed conflict between the FARC and ELN, which has significantly affected the Catatumbo region. The escalating violence led the Colombian president to declare a state of emergency in Catatumbo. In March, the UN urged the government to protect civilians as armed clashes intensified and called on the fighting groups to cease their violations of international humanitarian law.
