Colombia makes scant progress on protecting right to protest - report

Julissa Mantilla, president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), speaks during the presentation of the first report on the follow-up of recommendations, in Bogota, Colombia January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia has made substantial progress on only three of 28 actions recommended by a regional human rights body to protect the right to protest after deaths during demonstrations in 2020 and 2021, the organization said on Friday.

The country was rocked by waves of protests during the administration of former President Ivan Duque, leading to dozens of civilian deaths, according to official figures, while advocacy groups say the number was significantly higher.