The Office of the People’s Defender, through the Social Conflict Observatory, recorded a total of 34 social conflict events during the week of September 16 to 22. It was found that the majority of them demanded the guarantee of the rights to education, life, liberty, integrity and security, as well as the improvement of working conditions.
Most of these events were presented in Bogota and in 22 municipalities in thirteen departments: Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Norte de Santander, Santander, Tolima and Valle del Cauca, where communities demonstrated through blockades or power cuts road, seedlingsconcentrations, marches, mobilizations, civic strikes, cessation of activities and riots.
The Social Conflict Observatory warns of a possible escalation of the conflict in Manaure (La Guajira), where school transporters demonstrated for lack of payment by the department and in San Roque (Antioquia), where residents of the municipality demonstrated against national and regional authorities. due to the lack of formalization and titling of mining communities.
The Office of the Mediator, through the Delegate for the Prevention and Transformation of Social Conflicts, the Delegate for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESC), With the support of the Regional Defenders Offices, she participated in different dialogue tables to mediate, serve as a guarantor of rights and monitor different conflict situations.
Likewise, the Bolívar Regional participated in a working group related to the problem of the Mamonal industrial zone due to the violation of labor hiring rights, and at the same time exercised its role as mediator in a social dialogue for the lack of gas. service.
For their part, the DESC Delegate and the Regional Council of Cundinamarca participated in the dialogue between the national entities and the population of Guayabetal and Pipiral, which allowed the lifting of the blockade or road block being developed due to the effects suffered by the community through the constant closures of the road to the plain.
In Santander weather is of concern
It is considered important to pay attention to conflicts that arise in Barrancabermeja (Santander), Arauquita (Arauca) and Bucaramanga (Santander), where road closures (blockades) and demonstrations were announced for the rights to education, decent work and the right to life and tranquility.
Likewise, the Mediator calls on the various territorial authorities and control entities to carry out particular monitoring of the various marches and mobilizations which took place this Wednesday, September 27, so that no effect is recorded on the rights of third parties who do not do not participate. in these citizen expressions and prevent possible acts of violence or disturbances to public order.
Protest, public and peaceful demonstration, is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed by the State, but it must be emphasized that it must be exercised in a free, autonomous and voluntary manner. within the framework of democracy and the right to participation.
During the marches and social mobilizations convened, the National Human Rights Institution will accompany, through the National Directorate for Attention and Handling of Complaints and the 42 regional offices of mediators, the events taking place in the different regions from the country.
Likewise, the Delegate for the Prevention and Transformation of Social Conflicts will collect information to warn of a possible escalation towards situations of violence and will activate dialogue scenarios with the competent authorities and demonstrators or participants in mobilizations and with civil society.
