Community leaders and human rights advocates in Colombia are being assassinated at a rate of roughly 1 every 3 days, the highest rate in the world, since the 2016 peace agreement with FARC. 5 out of the 6 most dangerous countries for these killings are in Latin America and include Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil. The only non-Latin American country in the top six is the Philippines. Driving the issue is the inability of the state to fill the vacuum left by areas previously controlled by FARC guerrillas. Now, groups positioning for control of drug production and illegal mining are targeting those who oppose them, whether environmental activists, community leaders, or human rights advocates. Very few of these assassinations result in charges or convictions, in spite of their being preceded by threats in nearly every instance. This insecurity is reducing faith in the government, which has further contributed to the lack of stability, and many have pointed out many parallels between the current situation in Colombia and moments during the past three decades prior to the supposed demobilization of FARC in 2016 and several right-wing paramilitary groups in 2006.
Source: Colombia: One human rights advocate killed every three days | Colombia News | Al Jazeera
