"This endless wave of anti-union and anti-social pressure is unacceptable," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "The Colombian authorities have a duty to protect their people and their workers, and, above all, to bring an end to impunity."
Over 280 trade unionists received death threats and 20 were killed in Colombia during 2012. Four trade unionists have already been assassinated in the first three months of 2013.
National, regional and international trade union movements have once again joined with the three Colombian trade union centres, CUT, CGT and CTC, in reiterating their unwavering condemnation of the relentless attacks on the Colombian trade union movement, including the constant intimidation, harassment, persecution and murder of union leaders and members, in blatant violation of the core ILO Conventions ratified by Colombia.
In a letter to the Colombian authorities, the ITUC vehemently condemned the threats issued and firmly rejected the unfounded accusations regarding the human rights activists’ alleged links with the insurgency, and demanded constitutional guarantees with respect to the fundamental right to organise and freedom of association.