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La Via Campesina struggle against femicide and violence against women
by La Vía Campesina 25 Nov '15

25 Nov '15

La Via Campesina struggle against femicide and violence against women [1] Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2015 18:40 [2](Harare, November 25, 2015) On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, La Vía Campesina will be mobilizing to strengthen the struggle and resistance around our capitalist, patriarchal system. Taking into account how this system endangers the lives of women, how it treats them as objects, how it exploits women and removes them from their homes, creates wars and militarizes civilian territories, it is urgent to build new human relationships that are founded on gender justice and equal rights. La Vía Campesina is reaffirming its commitment to the "Global Campaign to End Violence Against Women" undertaken in 2008 as a tool for debate and education within the peasant movement. Additionally, it aims to call out the structural violence in society that threatens women around the world. This violence manifests itself in every arena, including the physical, psychological, economic and the political one and it is reinforced daily as if it were something natural and normal. This year, standing together as La Vía Campesina, we raise our voice in opposition to all forms of violence and oppression while bringing attention to the global increase in femicides. We witness with great indignation and anger how the current historical conditions created by the capitalist, patriarchal system promote social practices that permit attacks on women. This happens both in the city and countryside, regardless of social class, political beliefs, religion and age. In addition to a patriarchal, capitalist society where violence is normalized and women's bodies are objectified, the lack of legal protections, breach of laws and lack of public policies worsens the problem. This creates an insecure living situation for women that puts lives at risk and promotes impunity and silence. We are being murdered! Therefore, on this day of action we call on our organizations and our allies to participate in the World March of Women and ask our friends to collectively make visible all forms of violence and oppression that women face. Our goal is to strengthen our collective efforts as well as our hopes to build a new society based on gender justice and dignity for everyone. More information: Photos and audio: Check Out our New Postcard Collection: No More Violence Against Women! [3] Primer: No More Violence Against Women! here. [4] Video: No More Violence Against Women! [5] Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmenu… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/2015-11-25-No%20Violence%20against%20wome… [3] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Cunas-Radiales-Basta-de-Violencia?lang=es [4] http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/sp/Cartilla_Basta_de_Violencia_contra… [5] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Basta-de-violencia-contra-las-72?lang=es

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La Via Campesina E-Newsletter November 2015
by La Vía Campesina 24 Nov '15

24 Nov '15

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Syngenta convicted in Brazil
by La Vía Campesina 19 Nov '15

19 Nov '15

HUMAN RIGHTS SYNGENTA CONVICTED IN BRAZIL [1] Published on Thursday, 19 November 2015 23:37 [2] JUSTICE FINDS COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR ARMED ATTACK ON ENCAMPED RURAL WORKERS. The court sentence, given by Judge Pedro Ivo Moreiro, of the 1st Civil Court of Cascavel, was published in the Paraná State Official Gazette this Tuesday (17). The sentence rules that the company shall pay compensation to Keno's family and to Isabel for the moral and material damage it caused. The case was taken to court in 2010, as an attempt to get a response from the State regarding Syngenta being responsible for the attack perpetrated by private armed militia. The sentence has been well received by social movements and human rights organizations, since making companies accountable for human rights violations is a challenge of global dimensions. "Transnational companies currently have considerable freedom to operate on a transnational basis, but there are no national or international norms or mechanisms sufficient to oblige companies to respect human rights or to hold them accountable for cases of human rights violations. In this case, Syngenta having been found responsible is an exception to the rule", explains Terra de Direitos' lawyer, Fernando Prioste, who has been accompanying the case. ABOUT THE SENTENCE The judge found that the fact that took place on Syngenta's property was nothing less than a massacre. In his sentence the judge states that "to refer to what happened as a confrontation is to close one's eyes to reality, since […] there is no doubt that, in truth, it was a massacre disguised as repossession of property". The version put forward by Syngenta was thus rejected by the Judiciary Branch. The company claimed that the attack that took place in 2007 was the result of a confrontation between militiamen and members of Via Campesina. In its defence, Syngenta acknowledged the illegality of the action of the private militia, as well as the ideological nature of the action against Via Campesina and MST. The company stated that "more than protection of farm properties, it is clear that the militia's objective was to defend an ideological position contrary to that of the MST [Landless Rural Workers' Movement], so as to propagate the ideia that every action results in a reaction." With this statement the transnational company attempted to avoid its responsibility, claiming that the attack was not made by the company it hired, but rather by militia acting on the orders of landowners. Notwithstanding, in his sentence the judge recognized that the "bad choice in outsourcing security services, as well as the indirect funding of illicit activities, is a factor that generates civil liability". Moreover, the judge vehemently condemned the attack by stating that "however reproachable and illegitimate the occupation of the property may have been, nothing justifies taking the law into one's own hands, imposing the death penalty on the occupants, rather the legal means for resolving the conflict should have been sought since, after all, the legal system considers the arbitrary exercising of one's own judgements to be a crime". As such the court sentence not only reaffirms the ideological nature of the militia's action, but also links Syngenta with that action. The court sentence is not definitive. Syngenta, through its defence lawyer René Ariel Dotti, can appeal to the Paraná State Court of Appeals. In the view of Terra de Direitos' lawyer, Fernando Prioste, the Appeal Court is expected to maintain the sentence in order to re-establish the truth about what happened in October 2007. "There is strong evidence against the company", he notes. "If Syngenta were to be absolved this would be tantamount to the justice system acquiescing to massacres like the one that occurred in this case". EXCEPTION TO THE RULE [3]When asked about the sentence, Isabel Nascimento dos Santos said she was pleased, much more than merely because of the financial compensation. Seriously injured during the attacked idealized by Syngenta in 2007, the rural worker highlighted the court's recognition of the company's guilt in the case. "Now I can hold my head up, and try to forget a little of the suffering we've faced. Is the battle over? Never! We shall carry on, continuing Keno's work as well". Eduardo Rodrigues, MST representative in the Cascavel region, stresses the importance of the sentence. According to him, the impunity of large companies that violate rights is common, and at the same time the movement's members are frequently criminalized for their struggle in opposition to the agribusiness model. "The attack did not take place unbeknown to the multinational company", the farm worker denounces. "They not only provided institutional support, but financial and logistic support as well." Eduardo hopes that this sentence will be extended to other cases in which companies will be held accountable for the attacks they commit. "I hope this sentence will strengthen our struggle, giving visibility to our companions". The many obstacles existing to ensure that companies respect human rights and are held accountable for the violations they commit, have lead the United Nations Organization (UN) to discuss the establishment of a binding international treaty creating prevention, redress and accountability mechanisms with regard to the issue of companies and human rights. The UN working group on the establishment of an international treaty regarding companies and human rights will visit Brazil in December. It is expected that the UN representatives will use case convicting Syngenta as a reference for holding accountable large companies that commit human rights violations through outsourced companies. ABOUT THE CASE On October 21st 2007 around 40 gunmen from the "NF Segurança" company attacked the Via Campesina encampment located at Syngenta's genetically modified food experiment site at Santa Tereza do Oeste (PR). The site had been occupied once more that morning by around 150 members of Via Campesina and the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST). The occupants were denouncing illegal experiments on genetically modified corn in a protective boundary zone of the Iguaçu National Park. Via Campesina members were also seeking to denounce biotechnology companies that work so as to impose a farming model that causes environmental harm through the use of genetically modified crops and pesticides, making it infeasible for self-employed rural workers, indigenous peoples and traditional communities to produce healthy foodstuffs. Heavily armed NF Segurança militiamen invaded the site firing their guns towards the people who were occupying it. According to information provided by Via Campesina, the attack had been arranged by Syngenta which used NF Segurança's services, together with the Western Region Rural Society (SRO), and the Rural Producers' Movement (MPR), which has links with agribusiness. There are signs that the security company was going to be closed down and that it hired security guards illegally to perform attack operations. In addition to Keno, the gunmen shot and beat up Isabel and injured a further three farm workers. With a 19% share of the agrochemical market and the third highest profits from seed sales worldwide, coming only after Monsanto and Dupont, Syngenta, along with other transnational companies, exacerbates the scenario of rural violence by imposing a farming model based on monoculture, gross exploitation of farm workers, environmental degradation, use of pesticides and private appropriate of natural and genetic resources. The Valmir Mota de Oliveira ("Keno") Agroecology Research Centre has been set up in the area where the facts occurred. >> Find out more about the case [4] >> Terra de Direitos has developed guide [5] on the issue of making companies accountable for human rights violations, to assist with assessing possibilities of taking legal action against companies on the international level. Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-m… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/Syngenta%20Condenada.png [3] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/Keno.jpg [4] http://terradedireitos.org.br/2013/03/02/syngenta-parana/ [5] http://terradedireitos.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Guia-transnacionai…

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“Peasant Agroecology for Food Sovereignty and Mother Earth, experiences of La Via Campesina”. Now available!
by La Vía Campesina 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

“PEASANT AGROECOLOGY FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND MOTHER EARTH, EXPERIENCES OF LA VIA CAMPESINA”. NOW AVAILABLE! [1] Published on Monday, 09 November 2015 23:47 Our Solutions to the COP21 - New Notebook La Via Campesina [2]TITLE: "Peasant Agroecology for Food Sovereignty and Mother Earth, experiences of La Via Campesina" SUMMARY: La Via Campesina is pleased to present study booklet number 7: "Peasant Agroecology for Food Sovereignty and Mother Earth, experiences of La Via Campesina", which is the result of the collective efforts of various organizations from diverse regions including Africa, America, Europe and Asia. These groups make up part of our worldwide movement. >From their distinct territories they shaped their experiences in agroecology training, organizing, production and marketing of healthy foods into 10 articles. This set of experiences represents a dynamic range of practices and knowledge, both for training within our movement and as a mechanism for additional knowledge exchange and rural-city dialogue. This book also seeks to provide visibility of advocacy for Food Sovereignty which creates space for reflection, with examples from academic institutions, political allies and friends. We propose Peasant Agroecology as a way of production for rural communities, where Food Sovereignty constitutes a principle of life. DATE: November 2015 LANGUAGE: English (Also available in Spanish and French) EDITING: La Vía Campesina DOWNLOAD HERE. [3] Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/publications-mainmenu-30/1899-peasant-… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/Afiche%20Pub%20Agroecologa%20English.jpg [3] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/pdf/CUADERNO%207%20LA%20VIA%20CAM…

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Silence the Guns, Stop the Killings!
by La Vía Campesina 29 Oct '15

29 Oct '15

Silence the Guns, Stop the Killings! [1] Published on Thursday, 29 October 2015 18:16 (Turkey, October 29, 2015) We peasants are the ones who watch over a plant as it comes into leaf and grows tall; who plant seeds, seedlings and saplings in the earth; who are filled with joy when we observe their healthy progress; who lose sleep when they fall sick; who care for our animals like our children. Yet now, we are losing sleep over events in the Middle East and Turkey, we are following developments with great concern. Why? Because war strikes small farmers first. Peasants are being forced to abandon their villages and land. Peasant families are not only losing their land, but also their lives, and they are being forced to migrate. Forests are now being destroyed, the water is being polluted and nature faces ruin. Each new dawn brings more news of massacres. News of massacres in Turkey have been added to the already devastating news of massacres in Syria and Iraq. In June, a bomb exploded in Suruç the midst of a gathering of young people who wanted to take some toys to children in Kobanî, and 33 of them lost their lives. Instead of finding and capturing the perpetrators of the Suruç Massacre by the government, we observe an increasing of police operations targeting progressive and democratic forces. Young people are dying: It makes no difference whether they are soldiers or civilians, Kurdish or Turkish. The peace process has now been declared to have been put "on ice". The policies of the current government are dividing the people in Turkey along lines of race, nationality and religious denomination. Every single social demand, every step for democratic progress is being stifled under oppression. The AKP government and the President have failed to accept the outcome of the June 7, 2015 general election, taking advantage of anti-democratic laws and legal loopholes. The formation of a new government has been blocked; and the President has announced a new snap election. Then, bombs exploded on 10 October in the midst of a peace rally that opposed the policies that rapidly polarize the country and lead to a civil and international war. The rally aimed to raise the voice of peace over war and was organized by DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions), KESK (Confederation of Public Workers Unions), TMMOB (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects), and TTB (Turkish Medical Association). Dozens of mass organizations, including Çiftçi-Sen, and left political parties supported the rally. According to official figures, 97 peace defenders were murdered and 400 were injured in the capital city of the country in front of the eyes of the state authorities. In light of recent events, we demand that the international community and everyone across the world who cares for justice and peace put pressure on the AKP government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to abandon their policy of war and anti-democratic practices to Silence the Guns and Stop the Killings! _Çiftçi-Sen (Small Farmer Unions Confederation in Turkey)_ Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-m…

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La Via Campesina - Electronic Newsletter, September 2015
by La Vía Campesina 21 Oct '15

21 Oct '15

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"Together, we can cool the planet!" - full video
by La Vía Campesina 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

"Together, we can cool the planet!" - full video [1] Published on Friday, 16 October 2015 14:55 [2](Harare, October 16, 2015) For many years, La Vía Campesina and GRAIN have been telling the world about how the agroindustrial food system causes half of all greenhouse gas emissions. But the world's governments are refusing to face these problems head on, and the Paris Summit in December is approaching without any effective commitment to doing so on their part. This new video (Together, we can cool the planet [3]!) by La Vía Campesina and GRAIN gives you the information you need to understand how the agroindustrial food system is impacting our climate, and at the same time what we can do to change course and start cooling the planet. And every single one of us is part of the solution! In the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa, for many years, we have been criticizing false solutions to climate change like GMOs, the "green" economy, and "climate-smart" agriculture. No two ways about it: the solution to the climate crisis is in the hands of small farmers, along with consumers who choose agroecological products from local markets. This is the message we're taking to the Paris Climate Change Conference this December. Join the campaign! Share this video! Together, we can cool the planet! [3] More information at: http://tv.viacampesina.org [4] http://viacampesina.org [5] http://www.grain.org [6] Food and Climate: https://www.grain.org/article/categories/526-food-and-climate [7] Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL [8] @via_campesina [9] facebook.com/GRAIN.org [10]; @GRAIN_org Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/-climat… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/2015-10-15%20GrainLVC%20videoccen%201.png [3] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Together-we-can-cool-the-planet?lang=en [4] http://tv.viacampesina.org/ [5] http://viacampesina.org/ [6] http://www.grain.org [7] https://www.grain.org/article/categories/526-food-and-climate [8] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL [9] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [10] http://facebook.com/GRAIN.org

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Brazil: MPA holds a historic peasant congress to build food sovereignty
by La Vía Campesina 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Brazil: MPA holds a historic peasant congress to build food sovereignty [1] Published on Wednesday, 14 October 2015 20:58 [2] More than 4 thousands people, from all Brazilian States, have left their homes and farms to join caravans from different regions of the country towards Sao Paulo, to attend the First National Peasants Congress of MPA, the Small-Farmers Movement of Brazil, member of La Via Campesina. The symbolic Pavilion of Vera Cruz, the same place where the biggest trade union in Brazil, the CUT, and the Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores) were founded, decades ago. MPA has mobilised thousands of rural women and men to come together and consolidate all the work the movement has been doing in the last 20 years and reaffirm their class identity as peasants. MPA is re-affirming at this congress the strategic alliance between rural peasants and urban workers. "This congress has the task to put together what we have built so far in various areas such as health, food production, work on seeds, youth and organisational strengthening. Now, we want to take a great step and consolidate our understanding as a peasant class that we need to articulate with the workers class", said Isabel Ramalho, from MPA National Board. For Deolinda Carrizo, representative of CLOC-Via Campesina, this Congress represents the strength of an organised peasantry, not only in Brazil, but in the world. "This congress represents the struggle for Food Sovereignty, represents the call and action in defence of land, in order to fulfil the social mission of feeding the world. It is an inspiring event", said Carrizo. Former Brazil president, Inacio Lula da Silva, attended the opening of the Congress. Lula started by stressing that the congress is a gold moment in the history of Brazil. In his speech, Lula reminded the participants that the Peasant (and workers) struggle is not only a struggle for land and food. "As small-scale producers you are a social, economic but also political agents. Your struggle is in fact a political one". Lula said that, to call on Brazil Social Movements to take clear positions when it comes to defend what he called "social revolution" that Brazil is reported to have achieved in the last decade, by alleviating poverty in millions of people. Lula mentioned the Bolsa Familia programme that is believed to have taken 36 million people out of poverty in ten years. One of the "achievements" Lula and the current minister of agrarian development, Patrus Ananias, spoke about in the opening of the Congress is the famous Food Purchase Programme, in Brazil known as Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos, that requires that municipalities and federal facilities (hospital, military headquarters, prisons, university restaurants and care centres) purchase at least 30% of the total supply of foodstuffs from small-scale family producers. "This program is a clear signal that our government is strongly committed to your work as small-scale producers", stressed Lula. Although acknowledging the efforts of the former president's government in the social transformation, Isabel Ramalho of MPA seems not to be completely impressed. "It is true that so many people came out of poverty in Brazil, but social and economic inequalities are still scaring. Solving individual problems is not enough. We need a structural transformation in this country", she said. MOBILIZING THE PEASANTRY TO CHALLENGE AGRIBUSINESS MPA is mobilising peasants to take the task of building a peasant agricultural project that fights and challenges the agribusiness model that is still powerful in Brazil. "This same government has also allowed the progress of the capital and of the agribusiness model", said Isabel Ramalho. Brazil is one of the top agribusiness drivers in the world. The country has become the world´s top agricultural exporters. In 2012 Brazil surpassed the United State as the largest buyer of pesticides for its agriculture. Agribusiness, which includes biofuels, is responsible for 27% of the country's GDP and corresponds to at least 37% of the Brazilian export. The First National Congress takes place in a context of a political turbulence in Brazil. The gains that former president Lula talked about may risk being eroded Brazilian President, Workers Party Dilma Rousseff, is facing strong criticism from conservative right wing sectors. In the last years, many street protests called even for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Brazilian social movements, however, have taken the stand to support Dilma Rousseff since, although not always satisfied with the government policies, "we should not allow a step back on what we have achieved in this country", said Willian Clementino, from National Confederation of Farmworkers. _The communication team of the MPA Peasants Congress_ Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/1882… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/agrarianreform/congress-mpa.jpg

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Peasants’ rights belong to peasants! Don’t take a single one away!
by La Vía Campesina 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Peasants' rights belong to peasants! Don't take a single one away! [1] Published on Saturday, 10 October 2015 00:33 FINAL STATEMENT OF LA VIA CAMPESINA DURING THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. ROME, OCTOBER 9TH, 2015 [2] _Thank you Mr. Chair. Ladies and Gentlemen,_ 30 years ago, in this very same room, civil society already suggested the debate on farmers' rights to the FAO. Now, 30 years have gone by; an entire generation. Finally, the Treaty was approved but in reality, its implementation is still incomplete. Together with many farmers' seed networks from across the world, La Via Campesina has warned about the risk of abuses created by the collaboration between the Secretariat and Divseek regarding the access to plant genetic resources and Farmers' Rights. The time has come to reiterate our warning: it must not be allowed that the violations of the principles and rules of governance of the Treaty lead to its destruction. Now, it seems that the Treaty is becoming a "gigabyte treaty" which does not defend farmers' rights, in situ conservation, nor peasant seeds. Given the speed at which the negotiations on the Global Information System are taking place, the Treaty must cease to cooperate with DivSeek. Within the next few years, all genetic material held in public germplasm banks will be sequenced and available for corporations to access without having to sign a SMTA (Standard Material Transfer Agreement). This is a violation of the Treaty. We take the Governing Body's decision to delve into this issue into account. However, we fear that once this will be done, damage will be irreversible. All resources, as they become "dematerialized" will end up becoming a part of the patenting game. La Via Campesina thanks the Governing Body for having permitted civil society to suggest a space which enables greater participation. However, we are outraged by the Governing Body's decision to leave it in the hands of agricultural research, UPOV and WIPO to define farmers' rights, without having foreseen participation of national and international peasants' organizations, which are the ones that keep and renew the diversity of seeds in their fields. La Via Campesina thanks the numerous countries which have supported our suggestions. We also thank the Indonesian government for offering to host the debate on farmers' rights. Nevertheless, we decry the behavior of two countries which have set stumbling blocks in the way of any positive decisions in favor of farmers' rights. Doors for increased peasant participation could be opened. But to do so, first, governments must assume their responsibilities, cooperate fully and open these doors in their own countries. The difficulty in realizing Farmers' Rights is due to the fear of corporations. But we, peasants, are not afraid. The agro industrial system is depleted. It is destroying our biodiversity, our local seeds and production systems. And they do not have a "Plan B". What will happen when all this comes to an end? For industry, the priority is to maximize profits, as quickly as possible. Quite to the contrary, the priority, for peasants' is to feed the world's population and maintain biodiversity, the basis of food production. Governments are responsible for making citizens, city dwellers, consumers and workers participate in this debate. But if governments do not fulfill their duty, La Via Campesina will take the initiative to raise awareness among citizens. La Via Campesina will take action in every country, so that peasants can participate in defining and implementing their own rights as stipulated in the Treaty. _PEASANTS’ RIGHTS BELONG TO PEASANTS!_ _DON’T TAKE A SINGLE ONE AWAY!_ Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-a… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/Foto%20LVC%20Semillas.jpg

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An Open Letter - Threats in Colombia: Serious Concern regarding lack of guarantees
by La Vía Campesina 13 Oct '15

13 Oct '15

An Open Letter - Threats in Colombia: Serious Concern regarding lack of guarantees [1] Published on Tuesday, 13 October 2015 17:02 TO THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE COUNTRIES OF EUROPE, AND THE UNITED STATES TO PUBLIC OPINION October 13th, 2015 _Subject: Threats in Colombia: Serious Concern regarding lack of guarantees_ The government of Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC guerrilla movement recently announced that they had reached an agreement on the topic of Justice, one of the subject under discussion in their ongoing talks in Havana. This is an important step, allowing us to look forward with optimism to the possible signature of an agreement that will bring to an end the armed conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC guerillas after more than 60 years of war, we believe that this is a possibility that must not be lost. Furthermore, we hope that talks, leading to an eventual agreement, will soon be started with the ELN guerrilla movement. At the same time, we see with grave concern that, although there is talk of peace, there are no safeguards for the activities of the social organisations that are working to defend social rights and to oppose an economic model that is deepening inequality and that violates fundamental rights. We observe that human rights defenders, leaders of social movements, parties of the Left, people who are trying to recover their land, and independent journalists continue to be the victims of threats, acts of harassment, attacks and assassinations that are perpetrated by paramilitary groups such as the Urabeños, the Rastrojos, Aguilas Negras or Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia, and others. As was noted in the latest report on attacks against human rights defenders from Front Line Defenders, in 2014 Colombia was the country where there were the most assassinations of human rights defenders, with a total of 42 victims. The "We are Defenders" programme has signalled the fact that in the first 6 months of 2015 alone 399 acts of aggression were committed against human rights defenders and leaders of social movements; 34 human rights defenders were assassinated. We particularly want to draw attention to the following recent incidents: On October 6th, 2015, a threat signed by the paramilitary group Águilas Negras was sent to 8 people and 3 organisations. We want to stress the targetting of Eberto Díaz, member of Fensuagro and a leader of La Via Campesina International, and of several leaders and spokespeople of the Agrarian, Peasant, Ethnic, and Popular Summit, as well as of representatives of the trade union movement and social organisations, and independent journalists - including: Javier Betancourt, Andrés Gil, Carlos Ancízar Rico, Guevara Robert Daza, Jaime Cortez Suarez, la Guardia indígena, Prensa Rural, Julio Roberto Gómez, Jesús Elkin Rodríguez Moya and the CGT (General Confederation of Labour). This is not a question of an isolated incident. At the end of September, a pamphlet was circulated bearing the signature of "the capital bloc of the águilas negras". The pamphlet contained threats against recognised communications media, but its main message concerned more than 100 members of social and human rights organisations, members of the office of the Mayor of Bogotá, and other people connected with local peace processes - all of whom were declared to be military targets. To the foregoing must be added: assassinations, disappearances, and threats against social movement leaders in different regions of the country. These incidents raise the question as to whether the limited security measures offered by the government are sufficient or effective. Conversely, the incidents are evidence of the absence of safeguards for the essential work of human rights advocacy. This situation confirms the existence of important anti-peace forces which want to maintain a state of permanent conflict, in order to further their own interests. If these criminal groups, whether they be called paramilitaries or "bacrim" (criminal bands), are not disbanded and brought before the law - together with those members of the public security forces who maintain ties with them -- we are certain that they will become the seed from which renewed conflict will grow. Only a Peace with guarantees of respect for human rights, and real guarantees for the work of social organisations in the defence of human rights, is a Peace with prospects of lasting. It is imperative that the Colombian State take decisive action and that it disband the paramilitary groups. In addition, the international community of friends of the Colombian peace process: Governments, representatives of civil society, churches, and international organisations, must state firmly and clearly their opposition to the actions of these groups and their support for the legitimate and democratic activities of the different political forces and social movements. We invite the European Union, in accordance with its own commitment to human rights, to observe and accompany the work of human rights defenders in Colombia. _Signing Organisations:_ * Alianza por la Justicia Global * All Nepal Peasants' Federation * Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition * Asociacion Sindical de Trabajadores Bananeros Agricolas y Campesinos * Attac * Canadian Community Economic Development Network * Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo S.J." * Centro Internazionale Crocevia * Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores/as de las Americas * Confédération Paysanne * Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias * Convergence globale des luttes de la Terre et Eau Ouest Africaine * Convergence malienne contre les accaparements de terres * Ecologistas en Accion * Farmworker Association of Florida * FOS Andes * Fundacion Mundubat * Global Forest Coalition * GRAIN * Grupo Sur * Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy * La Vía Campesina * México vía Berlin * Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les peuples * Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo * Réseau Maghrébin d'Associations de Développement Local en milieu Rural * Sindicato Galego Labrego * SOA Watch Austin * SOLdePaz-Pachakuti * Solidaridad Suecia - America Latina * Transnational Institute * Union Paysanne * Uniterre * World Forum of Fisher Peoples Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-m…

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