The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Ms. Piedad Córdoba of Colombia, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/176/13(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 175^th session (October 2004),

Taking account of the letter from the Director of the Presidential Programme on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, dated 28 March 2005, which includes reports from the Attorney General's Office, and the letters from the Director of Political and Electoral Affairs and the Director of the Legal Order (Ordenamiento Jurídico) of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, dated 20 and 18 February 2005, respectively,

Recalling that Ms. Córdoba was kidnapped by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group between 21 May and 4 June 1999 and that there is no doubt about the involvement of its then leader, Mr. Carlos Castaño Gil, who disappeared in April 2004; considering that, according to the report from the Attorney General's Office, Mr. Carlos Castaño was formally indicted on 9 November 2004, recalling furthermore that, in this case, on 26 June 2002 an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Iván Roberto Duque Gaviria, who was declared absent by the Court on 27 August 2002,

Recalling further that Ms. Córdoba was the target of attempts on her life in December 2002 and January 2003; that, according to the information provided by the authorities in October 2003 and January 2004, the investigation into the attempt on her life of 20 January 2003 was at the evidence-taking stage; that four persons who had been placed in detention were implicated; that, on 18 September 2003, a preliminary investigation found them to be involved in that crime; and that the matter is pending the court’s determination as to whether it could proceed to trial on the basis of the legal merits,

Considering that the Government has presented a new, revised bill on demobilisation of the paramilitary groups which was discussed in the Congress at committee level in late March 2005 and strongly criticised by some Congress members for failing to ensure adequate respect for the right to justice and the right to reparation, which prompted several legislative counterproposals,

1. Thanks the authorities for the information provided; regrets, however, that the communication from the Attorney General's Office does not provide details of the stage reached in the legal proceedings concerning the attempts on Ms. Córdoba's life;

2. Trusts that the proceedings against the alleged perpetrators of those attempts, who were charged 18 months ago, are well under way; and would greatly appreciate information on the current stage of the proceedings and whether any timetable exists for their completion;

3. Notes that Mr. Carlos Castaño has been indicted for his role in Ms. Córdoba's kidnapping; calls on the authorities to make every effort to establish his whereabouts and those of Mr. Iván Roberto Duque Gaviria and to take such further action as the pursuit of justice may require;

4. Urges the Congress, in this crucial phase, to ensure that the bill on demobilisation of the paramilitary groups fully respects existing standards on justice and reparation and the many recommendations made to this effect by national and international bodies; would greatly appreciate being kept informed of any developments in this regard;
5. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the competent authorities and to the source;

6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 113^th IPU Assembly (October 2005).

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