There were reports of killings of Afrodescendant leaders. On 8 June, Afrodescendant human rights defender Bernardo Cuero Bravo of the National Association of Displaced Afro-Colombians in Malambo, Atlántico, was killed. He had been threatened and attacked many times on account of his work for the community and as a defender of those who had been forcibly displaced. Despite his repeated requests, he had not been granted any protection measures by the National Protection Unit. In November and December, two land claimant leaders from collective Afrodescendant territories were killed by paramilitaries from the Gaitanistas SelfDefence Forces of Colombia. There were reports of at least 25 other leaders being threatened by paramilitaries in these areas during the year. Many death threats against human rights defenders and other activists were attributed to paramilitary groups, but in most cases of killings it was difficult to identify which groups were responsible. However, the nature of the work carried out by the victims, many of whom were community leaders or land and environmental rights activists, suggested that several of them may have been killed because of their human rights work. Moreover, it appeared that denouncing abuses was perceived as a threat by regional and local economic and political interests, as well as by various armed groups, including paramilitaries.7 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS The efforts of women’s organizations ensured that the Peace Agreement established that people suspected of committing crimes of sexual violence would be required to appear before transitional justice tribunals. In addition, the Agreement confirmed that such crimes would not be subject to amnesties or pardons, although human rights groups had serious reservations as to whether this provision would be genuinely implemented. Official statistics showed no progress in access to justice for women survivors of sexual violence, despite repeated allegations 134 by women’s organizations of serious cases of sexual violence perpetrated during the year. According to the organization Sisma Mujer, between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2017, the Ombudsperson issued 51 statements warning of the risk of sexual violence, including six reports and notes associated with women defenders/leaders, in which he highlighted the extraordinary risks faced by women leaders and human rights defenders. Due to weak protection mechanisms, there was a heightened risk of gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence against women, in the context of the transition towards peace. Official figures recognized that following the demobilization of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) in 2005 there was a 28% increase in cases of sexual violence in the communities where ex-combatants from the AUC were reintegrated. However, the government had yet to implement mechanisms for prevention and for ensuring care, assistance, protection and access to justice for women survivors of sexual violence, notably in communities where FARC guerillas were to be reintegrated during the year. There were also weaknesses in mechanisms to ensure that survivors of sexual violence are heard and can participate equally in all bodies responsible for implementing the Peace Agreement. 1. Colombia: Paramilitary build-up in peace community (AMR 23/5614/2017); Colombia: Spike in attacks against peace community shows conflict still alive (News story, 21 March) 2. Colombia: Paramilitary incursion in humanitarian zone (AMR 23/5685/2017) 3. Colombia: Over 300 displaced due to paramilitary incursion (AMR 23/5826/2017) 4. Colombia: Further information: Continued paramilitary presence in Chocó (AMR 23/6082/2017) 5. Colombia: Wounaan Indigenous community in danger (AMR 23/6774/2017) 6. Colombia: Recent collective displacements and violence indicate the lack of non-repetition guarantees for Chocó’s Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombian communities (AMR 23/6946/2017) 7. The human rights situation in Colombia – Amnesty International’s written statement to the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (27 February-24 March 2017) (AMR 23/5573/2017) Amnesty International Report 2017/18