Four months after the armed attack against Venezuelan activists Yendri Velásquez and Luis Peche in Bogotá, the authorities have yet to present clear progress in the investigation or guarantee full protection measures, warns Amnesty International, while expressing concern over the risks faced by many Venezuelans who have been forced to flee their country without receiving adequate international protection.
“This attack cannot be treated as an isolated case. It reflects the risks faced by migrants and refugees, especially those who have been targeted for their activism. The state’s obligation is to protect and investigate urgently. Every day without progress deepens the harm,” said Valentina Ballesta, America’s Deputy Director for research at Amnesty International.
This attack cannot be treated as an isolated case. It reflects the risks faced by migrants and refugees, especially those who have been targeted for their activism. The state’s obligation is to protect and investigate urgently. Every day without progress deepens the harm.”
America’s Deputy Director for research at Amnesty International.
Colombia is the main host country for Venezuelans displaced by the prolonged human rights crisis in their country. In this context, Amnesty International recalls that states receiving migrants and refugees have clear obligations under international law: they must not only allow entry or stay in their territory, but also ensure effective access to asylum-seeking procedures without unreasonable delay, adopt timely protection measures against foreseeable risks to life and integrity, and investigate and punish acts of violence with due diligence.
“The case of our colleague Yendri Velásquez and Luis Peche illustrates how administrative barriers to the timely recognition of refugee status generate risks — particularly for people who defend human rights and who should therefore be subject to special protection, given they face particular risks,” said Marcos Gómez, Amnesty International’s Venezuelan section director.
The case of our colleague Yendri Velásquez and Luis Peche illustrates how administrative barriers to the timely recognition of refugee status generate risks — particularly for people who defend human rights and who should therefore be subject to special protection.”
Marcos Gómez, Amnesty International’s Venezuelan section director.
Four months after the attack, Amnesty International warns that the lack of clear and effective investigative results prolongs the suffering of the victims and sends a dangerous message of tolerance toward such attacks — particularly in a country like Colombia, which has faced a longstanding crisis of violence against human rights defenders. Impunity is also a form of violence; when states fail to investigate seriously and promptly, they breach their duty to protect, and erode trust in institutions.
“People live in fear in Venezuela, and those of us outside the country do too. The state has the responsibility to protect us and to investigate what happened. We will continue to speak out because silence will not protect us,” said Yendri Velásquez, Amnesty International member.
People live in fear in Venezuela, and those of us outside the country do too. The state has the responsibility to protect us and to investigate what happened. We will continue to speak out because silence will not protect us.”
Yendri Velásquez, Amnesty International member.
Amnesty International urges Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office to advance immediately with a thorough and impartial investigation into this attack; ensure adequate protection measures for the victims; and reaffirm in practice its commitment to international protection for those seeking safety.
Likewise, we remind the migration authorities of Colombia and across the Americas that international protection is not a discretionary concession: it is a legal duty and an ethical responsibility. Amnesty International will continue to monitor this situation and demand justice for any attack against people in need of international protection.
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