Colombia: Social, Human Rights Groups March Against State Crime

Wednesday marked the Day of Dignity for Victims of State Crime with over 100 social organizations and human rights groups marching in Colombia to pay homage for social leaders who have been murdered in the country.

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According to a spokesperson for the National Movement for Victims of State Crime (MOVICE), the event aims to bring awareness to the increase of politically-charged murders, after the signing of the 2016 Peace Accords. The murders include union leaders, like recently murdered Jose Fernel Manrique, who was an active member of a construction union.

The marchers chanted slogans including, "Let's defend the lives of the leaders!"

The vigil was organized by the Right to Life organization, which promotes the achievement of stable, and consistent peace and social justice. Spokesperson Luz Marina Hache expressed that, "any human life belongs to all of us, and we must defend it and demand that the state take measures to protect social leaders."

"Today, March 6, Colombia @acebnacional @uniamericas @uniglobalunion @ctccolombia Present! At the vigil, defending the lives of our union, social, and political leaders!"
 

The events took place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., local time, in several Colombian cities, including Barranquilla, Cali, Manizales, Sincelejo, Villavicencio, Barranca, Bogota, Ibaque, Medellin and Sogamoso.

Official figures have reported some 9 million victims of the armed conflict in Colombia, with 7 million displaced and 86,000 disappeared.

About 18 leaders have already been killed in 2019. Many of the killings involve drive-by shooting scenarios.