In recent years, the image of Colombia has changed - particularly since Alvaro Uribe, the country's former president, took office in 2002. The notorious left-wing group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has been weakened, paramilitary groups have been disarmed and cocaine production has dropped.

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In the days following the release of the indigenous human rights defender <media 6746>Raúl Hernández Abundio</media>, who was imprisoned unfairly for more than two years, PBI has become increasingly concerned by the growing wave of aggressions against the human rights defenders whom we accompany in the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero.

Indigenous peoples in Colombia exist in a precarious situation: assassinations, kidnappings, forced disappearances, threats and forced displacement continue to plague indigenous communities in Colombia.

According to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia, more than 1,400 indigenous persons were killed as a result of the armed conflict between 2002 and 2009.

On August 27, in an event in Mexico City, the Cerezo Committee Mexico celebrated its ninth annivesary as an organisation in defence of human rights, and also presented its new report Prison: a form of criminalisation of social protest in Mexico (2002-2008). Emilio Álvarez Icaza, human rights specialist, has described the report as “basic material for any political debate about justice”.

Juan Manuel Santos has made a refreshing start as Colombia’s president by departing from the policies of his predecessor, Álvaro Uribe. But to map a new political direction he will need support from uncertain allies, says Adam Isacson.

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Mexico City, August 2010

While visiting Mexico from 4 to 7 August 2010, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyng-wha Kang, met with representatives of civil society organizations who submited to her consideration a brief report on some of the most pressing issues related to Human Rights in Mexico.