| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Senado de la República
|
| Date of creation |
1992 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The principal aim of the Committee is to uphold human rights where they are being violated or flouted, to monitor and oversee the authorities responsible for ensuring respect for basic rights, and to promote action to ensure that any breaches are punished by appropriate criminal and disciplinary sanctions.
The Committee examines cases of human rights violations brought before its coordinating body, whether by natural or legal persons, individuals or groups, with the aim of ensuring respect, by the relevant government bodies, for the constitutional rights of those concerned ; it bases its activities on the powers of oversight conferred on it by law.
The Committee implements humanitarian actions on the basis of the Constitution, the law and the relevant regulations. It is active at local level, in relations between the State and civil society, responding through a variety of procedures (early warning system, assistance, hearings, humanitarian actions) to concerns raised, and stating events with other organisations involved in promoting and safeguarding human rights. |
| Membership |
The Committee is made up of 10 senators. They are elected by a system of electoral quotas for the electoral term laid down by the Constitution (four years). The Bureau comprises a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, elected separately by majority vote for a one-year term. They must not belong to the same political party or movement. |
| Working methods |
The topics discussed at the Committee's meetings, to be held at least monthly are decided on the basis of clear national priority or on a proposal from one of the members, which must be approved by a quorum (half the members plus one) for inclusion on the agenda of the next meeting. The hearings, conducted in public, may be requested by non-governmental organisations, professional associations, union representatives, civil or social associations, or by one of the members of the Committee.
In addition to the ordinary meetings held when Congress is in session, and any extraordinary meetings convened by the President of the Republic when Congress is in recess, special sessions may also be convened by Congress under its own powers in exceptional circumstances. Reserved meetings may also be held at the request of a Minister, on the suggestion of the Bureau or on a proposal from one-fifth of members, taking into account the confidentiality of the topics concerned.
The Committee can meet anywhere in the country, and can set up commissions of inquiry and public hearings in places other than its headquarters. It may also participate in plenary sessions of permanent bodies dealing with human rights in Colombia, either by invitation or on a proposal approved by a meeting of the members.
The Senators who make up the Committee express their views on initiatives or matters raised during the meeting by means of a vote, which may be ordinary, named or secret. A quorum is required for voting. In the absence of a quorum, the Committee may continue its deliberations but may not adopt decisions. Any initiatives adopted at the Committee's meetings are translated into measures to be implemented through the offices of the Committee Coordinator. The Coordinator also monitors the situation so that, if no action is forthcoming, the members of the Committee can take the necessary steps to ensure swift and effective implementation. The Committee's coordinating body must present a report on its activities if requested to do so by the members. |
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee has direct links with all the constitutional committees in Congress, since human rights need to be legally protected both within the country and internationally. In accordance with the legal mandate already referred to, concerns arising out of the public hearings must be put before the full Senate or the committees dealing with the relevant legislation. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Committee has direct links to the various agencies of the executive responsible for ensuring respect for basic rights. These include the Office of the Vice-President of the Republic on matters pertaining to human rights and international humanitarian law, the Interior Ministry for the programme to safeguard human rights and international humanitarian law, the Foreign Ministry, the Red de Solidaridad Social (Social Solidarity Network) and the Health and Education Ministries; at departmental and municipal level the Health and Education Secretaries, and in the Bogotá district the department for social welfare (DABS). Within civil society, it is in direct contact with human rights NGOs and the Catholic Church, and in the international arena with the UN, various embassies and with international NGOs.
The Committee has direct links to the various agencies of the executive responsible for ensuring respect for basic rights. These include the Office of the Vice-President of the Republic on matters pertaining to human rights and international humanitarian law, the Interior Ministry for the programme to safeguard human rights and international humanitarian law, the Foreign Ministry, the Red de Solidaridad Social (Social Solidarity Network) and the Health and Education Ministries; at departmental and municipal level the Health and Education Secretaries, and in the Bogotá district the department for social welfare (DABS). Within civil society, it is in direct contact with human rights NGOs and the Catholic Church, and in the international arena with the UN, various embassies and with international NGOs.
In examining matters falling within its remit, the Committee may call on the assistance of public servants including ministers, deputy ministers, heads of administrative departments, presidents, directors or managers of national decentralised agencies, and other officials of the executive arm of the State. |
| Subjects dealt with |
As part of efforts to secure peace through negotiation, an urgent proposal was put before Congress to extend Law 418, and approved accordingly. The aim, inter alia, is to promote reconciliation between Colombians and peaceful coexistence with the aim of securing peace. On 18 December 2002, the proposal to extend and amend Law 418 of 1997 was adopted by both chambers. The Committee on Human Rights and Hearings campaigned for the inclusion in Article 28(3) of a reference to programmes designed to protect the lives of members of the medical profession. The proposal was approved unanimously by both chambers.
The Committee has conducted working sessions with non-governmental organisations in order to learn more about the views and planned activities of all those engaged in safeguarding and promoting human rights in Colombia. These included a meeting on 25 September 2002 with the Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (Centre for Justice and International Law - CEJIL), which focused primarily on access to and use by citizens of the Inter-American human rights system and the international humanitarian legislation in force in Colombia. A second meeting was held with Colombian, European and US NGO coordinators. The main subjects covered were the recommendations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia and the undertakings secured by the Colombian government, as well as the current situation of human rights advocates in the country. Other topics discussed included forced displacement, the competence of the Solidarity Network and failures in the implementation of human tights by the National Government. At the meeting, held on 2 October 2002, the NGOs agreed to hold quarterly meetings with the Committee in order to exchange information and discuss issues of interest to society and to Congress as a whole.
The Congress of the Republic, under its legal and regulatory powers, has summoned members of the Executive to appear before Committee meetings and report on the activities and remit of the organisations responsible for safeguarding and promoting human rights in Colombia. The meeting of 15 May 2002 was attended by the Director of Human Rights in the Vice-President's Office, the Interior Minister, the Director of the Solidarity Network and the Human Rights Ombudsman. The representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia was also invited. The aim was to combine the efforts of all the agencies concerned, in order to ensure an active and concerted campaign to protect civil society. As part of its political oversight role, the Committee's Bureau has conducted visits to the Interior Ministry's human rights departments to ensure that the latter comply with their obligations vis-a-vis human rights defenders. It also assists in cases of alleged human rights violations involving those departments. At present, however, the Committee has no complaints on its files against any official for challenging the legitimacy of the human rights organisations or one of their members.
The early warning system (SAT) is administered by the Human Rights Ombudsman in cooperation with the Solidarity Network and other State bodies responsible for protecting members of the population who may be in danger. Warnings are also issued to NGOs involved in protecting the population. The Committee on Human Rights and Hearings of the Senate of the Republic has issued three early warnings. In May 2002, it received a report regarding a possible invasion and takeover of the "Plan Tolima", made up of the municipalities of Chaparral, Ataco, Ortega and Olaya Herrera, Natagaima and Coyaima and the police inspectorates of Castilla, Saldaina, Purificación, Guamo, Espinal and others by the paramilitaries of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia. A second report concerned the possible forced displacement of the inhabitants of 27 villages between the Cambrfn gorge and southern Tolima, by the FARC-EP and a group of the Autodefensas paramilitaries in the region. The third referred to the activities of the FARC-EP in an indigenous community in the Colombian massif which formed the basis for the Cabildo Indfgena Papayacta (Papayacta Indigenous Council).
The Colombian Congress prepares measures and resolutions aimed at securing acceptance of and respect for international humanitarian law by the armed groups operating on the fringe of the law. These efforts are undertaken jointly by both chambers of Congress, with the aim of protecting members of the civilian population caught up in the country's armed conflict.
Similarly, an agreement was concluded between the Committee and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, designed to provide technical and statistical back-up in respect of advice and recommendations on promoting and safeguarding human rights in Colombia. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Sandra Ceballos Arévalo |
| Notes |
President |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+571 - 599 97 25 |
| Fax |
+571 - 599 96 49 |
| E-mail |
sc@sceballos.com |
| Website |
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Mr. Dieb Maloof Cuse |
| Notes |
... |
| Name |
Mr. Francisco Murgueitio |
| Notes |
|
| Name |
Mr. Ciro Ramirez Pinzon |
| Notes |
|
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