Colombia migration authorities denied entrance to Juan Grabois who is part of an Argentinian human rights delegation. The International Mission of Solidarity and Human Rights Observation arrived on May 25 to Colombia and is made up of different human rights and social organizations from Argentina and other countries in the region.
Grabois explained on Twitter that “After a series of physical attacks witnessed by several people and by security cameras, the Colombian government expelled me from its territory because it considers me a risk to State Security.”
He also added that “they took my documents and luggage. They put me on a plane to Lima accompanied by guards, without any explanation about my next destination.”
Following Grabois’ deportation, the mission held a press conference to publicly denounce the actions of the Colombian government against their delegation and present their objectives for the trip in the country.
International Mission of Solidarity and Human Rights Observation
The delegation has participation from a number of Argentine human rights organizations such as Peace and Justice Service (SERJAP), Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH), Platform Against Police and Institutional Repression (CORREPI), as well as social and people’s organizations, and personalities such as Juan Grabois, Leonardo Pérez Esquivel, Sergio Maldonado, Marianela Navarro. They travelled to the Andean country on May 25 to verify denouncements received of human rights violations committed by the Colombian forces during the National Strike.
They have designed routes to verify human rights violations in different cities and communities and elaborate a thorough report that will seek to shine light on these violations and condemn them on a national and international level, as stipulated in the Istanbul Protocol which the Colombian state itself subscribes to.
The delegation sustains that “in response to the reiterated denouncements of human rights violations carried out by state forces and paramilitary groups, we have constituted this Mission of Solidarity understanding that it is impervious to contribute to the fulfilling of rules, laws and international agreements with regards to the defense of human rights.”
The delegation will begin its mission in Colombia’s capital Bogotá and will visit other regions of the country until they leave on June 2.
