Colombia Human Rights Certification
Each year, U.S. funding appropriated for the Colombian military is
subject to specific human rights conditions outlined in U.S. law. The
U.S. Department of State is responsible for certifying to congressional
oversight committees regarding whether or not the Colombian government
has met human rights standards, including whether members of the armed
forces credibly alleged to have violated human rights are being effectively
investigated and prosecuted, and whether progress is being made in severing
links between the security forces and illegal paramilitary groups. This
“human rights certification” process takes place twice a year,
and currently can release 12.5 percent of the year’s military aid
at a time. (The conditions vary slightly from year to year and initially
covered 100 percent of military aid channeled through the foreign aid
appropriations bill.) The State Department is required to consult with
human rights groups on a regular basis regarding this certification.
The State Department has always certified that Colombia has met
the conditions, although there have been several periods when delivery
of a portion of military aid was delayed due to in large measure to congressional
and nongovernmental concern over lack of human rights progress by the
Colombian government. Here are many of the congressional, U.S. and Colombian
nongovernmental, and State Department documents presented during the certification
process.
Human Rights Certification 2007
Read LAWG's
Story on Killing of Civilians, December
2007
Joint Memo from U.S.
NGOs Concerned with Increase in Extrajudicial Executions by Security Forces
Urges Stricter Enforcement of U.S. Human Rights Conditions (pdf),
October 2007
State Department Memorandum on Certification
of Human Rights Conditions (pdf), June 2007
State Department Certification
of Human Rights Conditions (pdf), April 2007
LAWGEF Memo on
UNHCHR 2006 Report on Human Rights in Colombia (pdf), March 2007
Human Rights Certification 2006
Letter on Indigenous
Communities from Washington Office on Latin America, American Friends
Service Committee, Amazon Watch, and Colombia Human Rights Committees
(pdf), November 2006
Colombian Nongovernmental
Report on Certification (pdf), August 2006
Human
Rights Watch op-ed, Miami Herald, "Rosy Picture Belies Stark
Problems," June 2006
Center
for International Policy, "Another Human Rights Certification,"
June 2006
State
Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions (pdf), May 2006
LAWGEF Memo on Colombia Human
Rights Certification (pdf), April 2006
Congressional letter asking State Department Not to Certify Colombia on Human Rights (pdf), March 2006
Joint letter from U.S. NGOs on Colombia Human Rights Certification, January 2006
Colombia Human Rights Conditions for FY2006, (text)
Human Rights Certification 2005
Center for International Policy, "Unconsidered Evidence," September 2005
Amnesty International Press Release, State Department Again Certifies "Despite Lack of Evidence," August 2005
Center for International Policy Memo on Certification, August 2005
Washington Office on Latin America press release, "Political Interests Again Prevail Over Human Rights Concerns," August 2005
LAWGEF Press Release, "Colombian President Visits Crawford Ranch/U.S. Should Ask Tough Questions," August 2005
Colombian
Nongovernmental Report on Certification, (in spanish), August 2006
English
summary of memo
State Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions, August 2005
Senate letter asking State Department Not to Certify Colombia on Human Rights (pdf), July 2005
Center for International Policy, "Human Rights Certification? Not yet," July 2005
Human Rights Certification 2004
State Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions, September 2004
Human Rights Watch Says U.S. Has Squandered Leverage, January 2004
Human Rights Certification 2003
State Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions, July 2003
Human Rights Watch Response to State Department’s Decision to Release Aid, July 2003
Human Rights Watch Press Release Says U.S. “Misses an Opportunity,” July 2003
Declaration from Asamblea Permanente por la Paz, "Verdades Oficiales," July 2003
Human Rights Certification 2002
State Department Suspends Aid After Colombian Air Force Violations Laws of War, November 2002
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and WOLA, Colombia Human Rights Certification IV, September 2002
State Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions, September 2002
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and WOLA, Press Release, "Colombia Fails Human Rights Test," September 2002
Joint NGO Letter to Secretary of State Regarding Certification, September 2002
State Department Certification of Human Rights Conditions, May 2002
State Department Press Release on Certification, May 2002
Human Rights Groups Critical Criticize State Department’s Certification of Colombia, May 2002
Human Rights Watch, Colombia Human Rights Certification III, February 2002
Colombian
Nongovernmental Memo on Human Rights Certification, February 2002
English
summary of memo
Amnesty International Report on the Colombian Government’s Performance Regarding Human Rights Conditions, February 2002
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights Sends Letter to Secretary Powell, February 2002
Human Rights Certification 2001
White House Report on Human Rights Conditions, January 2001
Human Rights Certification 2000
Amnesty International Report on Human Rights Conditions, December 2000
State Department Report on Required Progress towards Human Rights Goals, September 2000
Presidential Determination Waiving Human Rights Conditions, August 2000
Justification for Presidential Waiver of Human Rights Conditions, August 2000
Amnesty International Report on the Colombian Government’s Performance Regarding Human Rights Conditions, August 2000
Human Rights Watch: Colombia Fails Human Rights Requirements of U.S. Aid Package, August 2000
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Washington Office on Latin America, Colombia certification I, August 2000
U.S. Nongovernmental Letter on Certification Consultation Process, July 2000
