Blog Archives
Bill Passed to Criminalize Social Protest in Colombia
Posted by Siobhan Riordan at Jun
Medellín, Colombia – A bill was approved last week on May 30, 2011 by the house of representatives that would criminalize “unlawful” social protest in Colombia. Under the new law, to protest in a public space without having been granted permission by government administration could result in substantial fines, a prison sentence of four to [...]
You Are Not an X: Rights Awareness in Colombia
Posted by Siobhan Riordan at Jun
Medellín, Colombia – What is our definition of “liberty”? What is the difference between individual liberty and collective liberty, and can we have both? How does our Constitution define liberty? What are the legal limits of public force, and how do we defend ourselves when those limits are exceeded? These are some of the questions [...]
Youth and Arbitrary Arrest in Colombia: Diego’s Story
Posted by Siobhan Riordan at May
The city of Medellín has a long and complicated history of conflict. Several of the problems that it still faces today are paramilitary control and militarization, the resulting armed political militias, territorial gang warfare, competition over lucrative narco-trafficking and public extortion operations, and poverty.
Mí Cuerpo Es Mío: Women’s Rights in Colombia
Posted by Siobhan Riordan at May
A woman in Colombia may seek a legal abortion only if she finds herself in one of three specific situations: (1) if she becomes pregnant as a result of violation, (2) if the pregnancy puts her life or health in danger, or (3) if the fetus is known to have a fatal malformation. The punishment for a woman who has an illegal abortion is up to 3 years in prison.
The March for Human Rights in Colombia
Posted by Siobhan Riordan at May
Medellín, Colombia – On International Workers’ Day on the first of May every year, people the world over gather in the streets to celebrate workers’ rights. Events on this day are often also attended by left-wing groups and organizations of all colors striving for political and social change. Photo: Protester with youth network La Red [...]
