Iván Madero Vergel
Iván Madero Vergel is president of CREDHOS, an organisation which provides training and education on human rights issues and International Humanitarian Law. It collects complaints regarding human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by paramilitary groups and members of the security forces, particularly those relating to extrajudicial killings in the region. CREDHOS has spoken out against paramilitary control in Barrancabermeja and against the various acts of intimidation and harassment targeting members of the organisation.
HRDs in Colombia work in a violent and unsafe environment. They are subjected to threats, intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, physical assaults, torture, killings, illegal searches of their homes and offices and stigmatisation as a result of their activities in defence of human rights. The perpetrators of these abuses are frequently paramilitary groups, many of whom have links to the government or security services, or armed opposition groups. The continued frequent and severe threats and attacks against HRDs around the country contradict government claims of paramilitary demobilisation.
