Colombia: Human Rights - Case Study

Cards (6)

  • Why it has a weak human rights record
    • 2021-25 - killings of peaceful protesters and bystanders
    • 174 acts of aggression against human rights defenders
    • 32 murders and 109 death threats
    • 2002-09 - 784 human rights defenders threatened, attacked or murdered
    • Only 10 convictions
  • How is military aid justified?
    • "War on drugs"
    • Economic benefits
    • Strengthen human rights values
    • Promote professional conduct in the armed forces
  • Paramilitary
    • 1985-2018 - 450k killed, 45% by paramilitaries
    • Paramilitary - an organisation that acts like a professional military but is not a part of the country's official or legitimate armed forces
  • How much military aid US provides and why
    • 2000-2015 - $10 billion
    • USA argues its military aid helps maintain peace, tackle illegal armed groups and fight criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking
    • US governments argues it had imposed human rights conditions on aid payments
    • e.g. by requiring the suspension of military personnel held accountable of committing human rights abuses
  • Colombia's drug trade
    • Cocaine - $10 billion per year
    • Colombia's share of coca production - 43% of global
    • Centred in Medellin, Cali, Norte del Valle and North Coast
    • Controlled by cartels in these cities, more recently paramilitary groups
    • e.g. The Black Eagles
    • Perpetuates social violence
  • Drug trade and the USA
    • Cocaine produced at $1500/kilo in jungle labs, can be sold on US streets for up to $50,000/kilo
    • US is the world's largest consumer of cocaine
    • USA invested $10+ billion in Plan Colombia to combat drug production
    • USA has extradited 2500+ Colombian drug traffickers since 1960s
    • US banks have been implicated in laundering cartel money, with $881 million traced through Wachovia Bank