Colombia’s Human Rights Crisis: A Fragile Peace Under Pressure.

Photo by  Jhonny Estrada on Unsplash.com 

Colombia is once again drawing international concern as new reports point to a steady worsening of its human rights situation, raising doubts about the durability of progress achieved after the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC. What emerges from recent assessments is not a sudden collapse, but a gradual and troubling regression, particularly visible in rural and peripheral regions where state authority remains limited. “Colombia is at risk of ‘reverting to the serious human rights situation’ it faced before a peace deal.” A UN-based report highlights how non-state armed groups have expanded both their territorial control and their methods of coercion, directly affecting civilian populations. The absence of a consistent government presence has allowed these groups to consolidate power, often through intimidation and violence. Communities report confinement measures, restrictions on mobility, and limited access to essential services such as healthcare and education.

The humanitarian consequences are increasingly severe. In 2025 alone, approximately 94,000 people were forcibly displaced, an 85% increase compared to the previous year, illustrating how quickly conditions are deteriorating in conflict-affected zones. Behind these figures lies a deeper structural crisis. Violence is sustained by a combination of illicit economies, including drug trafficking and illegal mining, which continue to finance armed groups and incentivize territorial disputes. “There has been a rise in violence against human rights defenders from criminal interests linked notably to drug trafficking, illegal mining…” 

Institutional fragility further exacerbates the situation. “Weak and overwhelmed institutions, high impunity levels, and corruption”.

Human rights defenders remain among the most exposed. Social leaders, particularly those advocating for land rights or environmental protection, continue to face threats and attacks.

In many cases, fear of retaliation prevents victims and witnesses from reporting abuses, contributing to a persistent cycle of invisibility and impunity. These conditions not only enable violence but also limit the capacity of authorities to respond effectively, leaving many communities without protection or access to justice. In response, the administration of President Gustavo Petro has pursued a strategy known as “total peace,” aimed at negotiating with remaining armed groups to reduce violence. However, the results have been mixed. According to recent assessments, ceasefires have often failed to significantly reduce attacks on civilians, raising questions about the effectiveness and implementation of the policy. 

The electoral context further complicates the situation. “The run-up to Colombia’s 2026 legislative and presidential elections was marred by violence.”  This violence has taken concrete and measurable forms. In 2025 alone, 18 political leaders were killed, and 126 attacks against them were recorded, reflecting a pattern of targeted intimidation. The risks became especially visible in June 2025, when conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was shot in the head during a campaign rally in Bogotá, the first attack against a presidential candidate in three decades. He died two months later from his injuries. The attack marked a significant escalation, recalling earlier periods in Colombia’s history when electoral violence was widespread.

Reports of threats against candidates and political actors raise concerns about the integrity of the democratic process. In regions where armed groups maintain influence, citizens' ability to participate freely in elections remains uncertain.

Nearly a decade after the signing of the peace agreement, many of its structural commitments, particularly those related to rural reform and state presence, remain only partially fulfilled. Rather than disappearing, violence has adapted, becoming more fragmented and localized, yet no less damaging in its impact on civilian populations.

What is emerging is not simply a return to past patterns, but a more complex and entrenched crisis. In this evolving landscape, civilians, especially those living in remote areas and those defending fundamental rights, continue to bear the heaviest burden.

written by Megi Likmeta