About this Crisis - The indigenous of Latin America - Index

Indigenous Women, Children at Risk

Within Latin America

This Section Last Updated November 1, 2007

Latin American Indigenous Issues Index

1 - Overview

2 - Special Coverage of Guatemala

3 - Indigenous Women in Brazil

4 - Indigenous Women in Peru

5 - Indigenous Women in El Salvador

6 - Indigenous Women in Mexico

7- Indigenous Women's Issues in Colombia (New)

8- More Indigenous Women's Issues

7 - Colombia

Centuries of Impunity Continue Today

About the Crisis for All Columbian Women

Americas: Indigenous People at High Risk

As the world marks the International Day of the World's
Indigenous People, native peoples continue to be the victims of human rights violations -- including killings and "disappearances" -- in many parts of the Americas, Amnesty International said today.

"Intimidation, harassment and violent attacks against
indigenous communities are frequent occurrences in countries including Honduras, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela," the organization added, calling on governments throughout the region to ensure the rights of indigenous people are fully respected.

From a News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International - August 9, 2001

A thirteen-year-old indigenous girl is held captive by the FARC leftist guerilla in La Plata, Colombia

July, 2002. © Getty Images

More photos from You'll Learn Not to Cry: Child Combatants in Colombia - Human Rights Watch

Indigenous Colombians face random murder and systematic rape at the hands of both rightist 'paramilitary' units and leftist guerillas. In addition, the centuries of impunity in sexual assault that have plagued indigenous women and children across Latin America are cultural forces that continue to exist in all of Colombia's diverse regional cultures.

LATEST NEWS

Colombia, Spain

Madrid, Esp. -

Líder indígena colombiana denuncia a paramilitares homicidas

Madrid, Spain - Wayúu tribal leader Karmen Ramirez, known as the Wayúu Warrior, recently visited Spain to denounce repeated acts of murder and threats against life carried out by Colombia's right wing paramilitary armies.

Paramilitaries began incursions into Wayúu territory in the late 1990's, aided by the government and other institutions. Ramirez:

"The paramilitaries wanted absolute control the commerce and politics of the region..."

"For these reasons they began to murder and 'disappear' Wayúu tribal members."

The efforts of Ramirez and other, especially women leaders to organize and protest these acts have only lead to an increase in the repression against them.

Ramirez has been intimidated and threatened, like many other indigenous leaders, and several members of her family have been murdered by paramilitary forces.

Ana Requena Aguilar

CIMAC/AmecoPress

Oct. 31, 2007

Added June 6, 2005

Femicide in Colombia

Amnesty Int'l: "Soldiers from the Colombian Army's 18th Brigade Entered an Indigenous Community in the Municipality of Tame, [Raping and Killing] 16-Year-Old Omaira Fernandez, Who Was Pregnant ... (The soldiers) Opened Her Up In Front of Everyone. The Bodies of the Girl and the Baby Were Thrown in the River."

The U.S. has Provided Over $100 Million to the 18th Brigade Since 2003.

Hundreds of indigenous Wayúu flee into Venezuela -Date: 21 May 2004

Excerpts:

MARACAIBO, Venezuela, May 21, 2004 United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

Hundreds of indigenous Wayúu people have sought refuge in north-western Venezuela after fleeing brutal attacks by armed groups in Colombia.

The UN refugee agency has registered 306 Wayúu people in Venezuela's border state of Zulia after an assessment mission that ended on Friday. The majority of them are women and children, and numbers may be as high as 400 to 500, according to indigenous leaders. Many of the displaced have sought shelter in the homes of relatives and are reluctant to identify themselves because they fear attracting too much attention.

The Wayúu fled their native community of Bahia Portete in La Guajira, Colombia, following armed attacks and massacres by illegal armed groups in the last month. In addition to those who crossed into Venezuela, another 500 were displaced within Colombia.

...The paramilitaries entered in the morning – some 30 dressed as civilians and followed by another 100 in camouflage uniforms," said one of the displaced people in Venezuela. "They all had weapons, AK-47s, and went from house to house grabbing whoever couldn't run away. They pulled my mom, who is an old lady, out of the house while hitting and insulting her. Once they got her outside, they killed her. That's what they did with many women and even children...

Articles and News from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Colombia: Fear and possible flight in north-west following murders
Date: 14 Dec 2004

Extending UNHCR's reassuring presence to an indigenous community in Colombia
Date: 14 Dec 2004

UNHCR monitors return of indigenous IDPs to north-western Colombia
Date: 20 Jul 2004

Indigenous youth lose the will to live amid conflict in Colombia
Date: 2 Jul 2004

Growing concern over Colombia's indigenous people
Date: 2 Jul 2004

Update on The Americas, No. 7

Date: 30 Jun 2004

Hundreds of indigenous Wayúu flee into Venezuela
Date: 21 May 2004

Refugees Magazine Issue 132: (Protection) – Indigenous Colombians: "We are here today and tomorrow we disappear"
Date: 1 Sep 2003

Feature: "They are not only attacking us, they are attacking the whole of humanity," say Colombia's indigenous people
Date: 8 Aug 2003

Colombia: UNHCR's concerns for indigenous peoples
Date: 8 Aug 2003

UNHCR concerned about indigenous peoples caught in Colombian conflict
Date: 23 May 2003

Colombia: UNHCR's concerns for indigenous populations
Date: 23 May 2003

Amnesty International

(Fom: www.Amnesty.org)

Colombia: Indigenous hostages must be released immediately - Amnesty International

1 September 2004

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights.

URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR230432004

Colombia: Civilian population is the target of massacres - Amnesty International

1 July 2004

The murder of 34 apparent 'raspachines' (coca gatherers) on 15 June 2004 on the Río Chiquito farm in the La Gabarra area of the municipality of Tibú, department of Norte de Santander, which was at...

URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR230322004

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