Throughout January, a series of clashes in Catatumbo between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a dissident faction of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including community leaders, civilians and demobilized FARC rebels, and to the displacement of over 50,000 people. The confrontation was fueled by territorial disputes over drug trafficking routes in an area that is key to cocaine production. The events have been described as one of the country’s most dramatic humanitarian crises in contemporary history. President Petro announced an “internal state of commotion” that grants him special powers to address the causes of the crisis and contain its effects. He also suspended peace negotiations with the ELN.
The events have underscored shortcomings in the implementation of the 2016 peace accords and in the country’s ability to protect peace signatories. They have also highlighted the fragility of the ongoing peace talks, now at their most precarious moment.

Sources: Bogota Post, North American Congress on Latin America, Insight Crime, New York Times, El Pais, Razon Publica

In a landmark ruling, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CIDH) determined that Colombia failed to protect the U’wa indigenous people by allowing petroleum, mining, and tourism enterprises to operate on their land without prior consultation. This violated their fundamental rights, including the right to collective property, a healthy environment, and self-determination. The ruling, based on a case filed nearly 30 years ago, orders the state to take immediate action to restore the U’wa’s collective property, secure their land titles, and mitigate the environmental damage caused by activities like petroleum extraction. Additionally, the ruling requires the state to ensure the U’wa’s participation in any ongoing extractive projects, guaranteeing that these projects do not harm their cultural rights. Experts have described this decision as a historic victory for the U’wa against both the Colombian state and multinational corporations, setting an important precedent for indigenous rights cases across the country.

Sources: El Pais, Amazon Watch, El Espectador, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

On 13 November, the Senate approved a law banning marriage for people under the age of 18, following years of debate on legislation first proposed in 2007 and strongly advocated for by civil society. Previously, Colombia allowed children as young as 14 to marry with parental consent. The law also creates a National Program to prevent child marriages and support children in building life projects, while allowing married minors to seek annulment. According to expert data, about a fourth of Colombian women were married in childhood, with 4.5 million marrying before 18, including over a million before 15. Experts praised the law as a milestone for improving children’s rights, highlighting its importance for Indigenous and Afro-descendant girls who are disproportionately affected. Particularly, they underlined that child marriage contributes to higher school dropout rates, poverty and inequality, limiting professional and economic development. The law now awaits presidential approval to become official.

Sources: The Guardian, France 24, CNN, Razon Publica, El Pais, UNICEF

On 18 September, the Colombian government suspended peace negotiations with the insurgent group known as the National Liberation Army (ELN) following a violent attack on a military base in the Arauca region, attributed to the group, which left two dead and over 20 wounded. The peace talks with the ELN had been in crisis since March due to the its refusal to stop using kidnapping and extortion methods and the government's decision to open a separate negotiation table with a now dissident faction of the ELN. The situation worsened in August when both parties failed to extend the year-long ceasefire. Nevertheless, the suspension of peace negotiations marks the most significant crisis since talks began in 2022 under President Petro, dealing a major blow to the country’s efforts to achieve total peace. Government representatives have expressed their willingness to resume talks, but only if the ELN demonstrates a clear commitment to peace and to negotiating an end to the armed conflict.

Sources: AP News, La Silla Vacia, Deutsche Welle, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2)

On 20 September, the National Health Superintendence, a state agency overseeing healthcare services in Colombia, issued its first regulation to ensure comprehensive access to healthcare for the transgender population. The document instructs health providers on how to guarantee and improve healthcare access for the trans community while preventing discrimination. Key measures include training on human rights and gender sensitivity, respecting the identity names of transgender patients, and creating databases on this population’s access to healthcare services. The goal is to eliminate existing barriers that have historically hindered access to adequate healthcare for transgender individuals in Colombia. Furthermore, it establishes sanctions for those who repeatedly discriminate against transgender patients. LGBTQIA+ organizations have praised the regulation as a positive step toward ensuring equal access to healthcare and advancing human rights for their community.

Sources: Caribe Afirmativo, La Silla Vacia, Consultor Salud, El Espectador