Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

The website of We Are Defenders Programme: Non-governmental Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos, Programa Somos Defensores) indicates that We are Defenders Programme is an association of several NGOs that work together to [translation] "prevent attacks and protect the lives of people at risk because of their work as human rights advocates" (Programa Somos Defensores n.d.a). In an essay published in the series Deusto Notebooks on Human Rights, a publication of the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, Asier Tapia Gutiérrez, a professor of international relations at Bolívar Technological University (Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar), and Miguel Hernández García, an International Organization for Migration's consultant at the Office of the Ombudsperson of Colombia (Defensoría del Pueblo), indicate that We are Defenders Programme is a [translation] "solid non-governmental structure for the protection of advocates [of human rights] in Colombia" and that the organization is "well recognized and supported internationally" (Tapia Gutiérrez and Hernández García 2016, 48).

The website of We are Defenders Programme indicates that it receives funding from Oxfam, the European Union, MISEREOR ["the German Catholic Bishop's Organisation for Development Cooperation" (MISEREOR May 2016, 1)], and the Norwegian embassy in Bogotá (Programa Somos Defensores n.d.b). We are Defenders Programme is located in Bogotá (ibid. n.d.c).

2. Participating Organizations

Sources indicate that the NGOs that are part of We are Defenders Programme are the Colombian Commission of Jurists (Comisión Colombiana de Juristas, CCJ), Benposta Colombia - Nation of Youth (Benposta Colombia - Nación de Muchachos, Benposta Colombia), and the Association for Alternative Social Promotion (Asociación para la Promoción Social Alternativa, MINGA) (Tapia Gutiérrez and Hernández García 2016, 48; Programa Somos Defensores n.d.a).

The CCJ is a Bogotá-based NGO with consultative status at the UN that promotes, through juridical means, the respect of human, civil, political, social, and cultural rights (CCJ n.d.a). Benposta Colombia is a Spanish NGO founded in Colombia in 1974 that promotes the protection of the rights of youth and children in the country (Benposta Colombia n.d.a). The website of Benposta Colombia indicates that since 1985, it has received the support of several entities, such as the Dutch embassy in Bogotá, the European Union and the government of Canada (ibid. n.d.b). MINGA is an NGO that promotes the protection of human rights, [translation] "democracy, organized participation, autonomy of social processes, integration, the presence and defence of the land, and the strengthening of life projects," through protection initiatives, education, research and legal assistance (MINGA 4 Dec. 2007a). The website of MINGA indicates that it works in Arauca, Catatumbo, Cauca, Nariño and Putumayo (ibid. 4 Dec. 2007b) and that it receives funding from entities including Amnesty International, Oxfam and the European Union (ibid. 4 Dec. 2007c).

3. Activities

The website of We are Defenders Programme indicates that its activities are grouped in the following [translation] "axis": "direct protection," "training," "communication and public opinion," "promotion" and statistical analysis (Programa Somos Defensores n.d.a). Additional information on these activities, other than what is provided on the website of We are Defenders Programme, indicated below, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.1 Protection of Human Rights Defenders

The website of We are Defenders Programme indicates that it provides temporary support to human rights defenders and social leaders who need to leave a region where they are deemed to be at risk and relocate to another city or out of the country (ibid. n.d.d). It also offers assistance during regional humanitarian crises (ibid.). The protection programs are:

• [translation] "Humanitarian Assistance" (Apoyo Humanitario): economic support for human rights defenders at "imminent risk" who do not have the necessary resources to avail themselves of protection in their territory.
• "Domestic Internship" (Pasantía Nacional): temporary relocation of between three and six months, while encouraging the individual to continue working for the defense of human rights while in the area of temporary relocation.
• "International Internship" (Pasantía Internacional): temporary relocation of up to one year in another country for human rights defenders whose risk against their lives is considered "extreme" and there are no governmental or non-governmental programs available for their protection.
• "Protection Management Advice" (Asesoría en Gestión de Protección): provides advice to human rights defenders on how to access state protection, in cases where the defender wants avail of such protection, and how to follow self-protection protocols (ibid.).

The website also indicates that We are Defenders Programme provides these protection programs after carrying out an [translation] "extensive and detailed risk analysis" on the situation of the individual (ibid.).

3.2 Training

We are Defenders Programme provides training to national and international social organizations on national and international protection protocols, as well as on how to develop mechanisms for self-protection to threats (ibid. n.d.e). The training is provided through workshops on methodologies for contextual analyses on human rights-related issues, risk analysis and protection measures (ibid.).

3.3 Communication and Public Opinion

We are Defenders Programme provides training to human rights defenders and social leaders on public relations strategies and information technology to promote their work and mitigate potential aggressions or attacks against them (ibid. n.d.f).

3.4 Promotion

We are Defenders Programme [translation] "carries out lobbying activities with the Colombian government and state agencies, multilateral organizations, embassies and international community organizations to promote the adoption of policies for the protection of [human rights] defenders, organizations and communities" at risk (ibid. n.d.g).

3.5 Statistical Analysis

We are Defenders Programme administers the Information System on Aggressions Against Human Rights Defenders (Sistema de Información sobre Agresiones contra Defensores y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos, SIADDHH), which was created in 2006 with the purpose to [translation] "document, investigate and systematize" cases of aggressions against human rights defenders as reported by over 500 national NGOs (ibid. n.d.h).

4. Members

Sources identify Diana Sánchez as We are Defenders Programme's [translation] "Director" (Hispan TV 6 Aug. 2013), [translation] "Coordinator" (CNN 14 Sept. 2016), or [translation] "Spokesperson" (Agencia EFE 4 Aug. 2013). Sources also identify the following persons as members of We are Defenders Programme:

• Carlos Guevara (Semana 16 May 2014; Premio Nacional a la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Colombia 11 Aug. 2016);
• Gustavo Ulcué, who is also member of the Association of Indigenous Councils of North Cauca (Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas del Norte del Cauca, ACIN) (Radio Café Stéreo 14 June 2016; Latinamerikagrupperna Uppsala n.d.);
• Leonardo Díaz (El Espectador 19 Aug. 2016; Sputnik International 28 Aug. 2015). Russian news media source Sputnik International also identifies Díaz as a [translation] "coordinator" (ibid.); and
• Cristian Barrera (Minga Juvenil Nacional 16 Oct. 2016).

Sources identify as members of We are Defenders Programme's participating organizations, the following:

• Diana Sánchez, as the Director of MINGA (MINGA n.d.; Semana 16 May 2014);
• Gustavo Gallón Giraldo, as the Director of CCJ (CCJ n.d.b); and
• José Luis Campo, as Benposta Colombia's Director (La Región 27 May 2014) or [translation] "President" (Cemu 19 May 2016).

Additional information on the members of We are Defenders Programme and its participating organizations could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Instances of Violence

Instances of violence against members of Programa Somos Defensores could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agencia EFE. 4 August 2013. "37 defensores de DD.HH. han muerto en 2013." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Benposta Colombia - Nación de Muchachos (Benposta Colombia). N.d.a. "Historia." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Benposta Colombia. N.d.b. "Financiación." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Cable News Network (CNN). 14 September 2016. "Sánchez: No disminuyó violencia contra líderes sociales en Colombia." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Ciudadescuela Muchachos (Cemu). 19 May 2016. "Benposta, Nación de Muchach@s." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ). N.d.a. "Quiénes somos." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ). N.d.b. "Columnas de la Dirección." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

El Espectador. 19 August 2016. "Terror en Zona Bananera por asesinatos y amenazas contra reclamantes de tierras." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Hispan TV. 6 August 2013. YouTube Channel. "Siguen asesinatos a defensores de DDHH en Colombia." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Latinamerikagrupperna Uppsala. N.d. Facebook. "Colombia: Perspectives on the Peace Negotiations." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

MINGA, Asociación para la Promoción Social Alternativa. 4 December 2007a. "Misión." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

MINGA, Asociación para la Promoción Social Alternativa. 4 December 2007b. "Desarrollo temático." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

MINGA, Asociación para la Promoción Social Alternativa. 4 December 2007c. "Agencias financiadoras." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

MINGA, Asociación para la Promoción Social Alternativa. N.d. "Protección." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Minga Juvenil Nacional. 16 October 2016. Facebook. "Sin discreción: Contra la militarización de la vida." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

MISEREOR. May 2016. MISEREOR's Guidelines on Transparency and on Dealing with Cases of Embezzlement or Corruption. [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Premio Nacional a la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Colombia. 11 August 2016. YouTube. "Carlos Guevara, Programa Somos Defensores." [Accessed 11 Aug. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.a. "Quiénes somos." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.b. "Miembros del Programa." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.c. "Home." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.d. "Protección directa." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.e. "Pedagogía." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.f. "Comunicaciones." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.g. "Incidencia." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Programa Somos Defensores: Programa No Gubernamental de Protección a Defensores de Derechos Humanos (Programa Somos Defensores). N.d.h. "SIADDHH." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Radio Café Stéreo. 14 June 2016. "(video) 'La paz no se consigue solo con la desmovilización de las FARC-EP'." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

La Región. 27 May 2014. Sonia Torre. "La Benposta colombiana: 40 años luchando por la infancia." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Semana. 16 May 2014. "Sindicatos son pesimistas frente a las elecciones." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Sputnik International. 28 August 2015. "Asesinados en Colombia 69 líderes populares en 2015." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

Tapia Gutiérrez, Asier, and Miguel Hernández García. 2016. La situación de los defensores de derechos humanos en Colombia. Cuadernos Deusto de Derechos Humanos. No. 82. Bilbao: Universidad de Deusto.

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; BBC; Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo; Colombia – Ministerio del Interior; ecoi.net; El Colombiano; El Observador; El Tiempo; Factiva; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Noticias Caracol; Organisation of American States; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; UN – High Commissioner for Refugees, Refworld, ReliefWeb; US – Department of State; Verdad Abierta.