National Safety Mechanisms - Colombia

The Protection Program of the National Protection Unit (Programa de Protección de la Unidad Nacional de Protección) which houses the National Protection Unit (Unidad Nacional de Protección) was established in its current institutional form in 2011. The National Protection Unit does not only cover the issues related to journalists and media professionals but it is also responsible for protecting 16 categories of citizens (including human rights defenders, social leaders, ex-combatants etc).

What activities are carried out?

The Protection Program implements protection measures, such as the provision of bodyguards, armour-plated cars and communication equipment and the coordination between the National Police and the National Protection Unit in case of imminent risk.

How is it implemented?

The procedure to access the Protection Program of the National Protection Unit starts by completing the Registration Form for the Protection Program received from the Filing and Correspondence Group. The requestor is then referred to the Group of Protection Requests for the verification of documentation and subsequent implementation of appropriate protection measures upon successful application.

Who are the stakeholders?

The National Protection Unit is located within the Ministry of Interior. The National Police coordinate with the National Protection Unit to implement protection measures for journalists. The Ministry of Defence provides military intelligence regarding the location of threats, which may include armed groups. The Office of the Ombudsman is present during the Risk Assessment and Measures Recommendations Committee and provides information on risk. The Attorney General's Office cooperates, when necessary, with the National Protection Unit during the decision making process on providing protection measures. Civil society organisations support these assessments, including the Colombian Federation of Journalists (FELCOPER), the Colombian Association of Publishers of Newspapers and Media (ANDIARIOS), the National Association of Media (ASOMEDIOS) and the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP).

The National Protection Unit then implements protection measures through the use of private security companies.

The Action Plan for Prevention and Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Social Leaders, Community Members, and Journalists(Plan de Acción Oportuna de prevención y protección para defensores de derechos humanos, líderes sociales, comunales y periodistas) is active since 2022. It does not only cover issues related to journalists and media professionals but also covers a large group of other categories citizens in need of protection. The Plan will be implemented over 5 years from 2022-2026.

What activities are carried out?

The Plan has 5 general principles it works towards: 1) Guaranteeing conditions for the work of defending human rights and for the exercise of social leadership in those territories where the presence of illegal armed groups and illicit economies constitutes a risk factor for it; 2) Strengthening institutional capacity for multisectoral and multilevel management and coordination; 3) Promoting transparency, integrity and the fight against corruption for the work of defending human rights; 4) Strengthening the capacity of individuals and organisations that carry out the work of defending human rights; 5) Promoting a culture of respect and guarantees for the exercise of the right to defend human rights.

How is it implemented?

In 2021, the Action Plan was ratified as Política Pública de Garantías y Respeto a la Labor de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos. The law promotes the development of policy strategies at the national level that allow: 1) Developing joint institutional strategies to intervene in risk factors that threaten the exercise of defense of human rights; 2) Strengthening the institutional capacities for early prevention and timely protection of human rights defenders; 4) Adopting strategies that strengthen the stages of investigation, prosecution, and punishment of attacks against human rights defenders; 5) Strengthening the individual and collective capacities of human rights defenders for the promotion of rights and recognition of their work. 

One of the main aims of the Plan is coordinating institutions including the National Protection Unit. Which is the most important mechanism for the protection of journalists in Colombia.

Who are the stakeholders?

The main stakeholders are the President's office, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Protection Unit (UNP), the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defense.