IACHR publishes friendly settlement agreements concerning Colombia

August 8, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has published four friendly settlement agreements signed by the Colombian State and various petitioning parties concerning human rights violations. These agreements address cases involving discrimination, threats, and other forms of violence against LGBTI persons and human rights violations committed in the context of Colombia's armed conflict, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and rights violations committed by members of illegal armed groups. These agreements reaffirm the parties' shared commitment to seeking justice and comprehensive redress.

One of the most significant cases is Case 13,606—Raiza Isabela Salazar, about the violence suffered by trans persons. Salazar bought an apartment. Some of her new neighbors subjected her to threats, assault, and even homicide attempts based on her gender identity and gender expression as a trans woman. These events were never investigated, and no criminal punishment was ever imposed, so she felt forced to leave her home.

The State acknowledged its responsibility in a public event, where leaflets about Salazar—complete with the details of this friendly settlement agreement—were handed out. As a way to ensure remembrance and non-recurrence, an exhibition of photographs of trans women was held in the context of a cultural event to dignify trans persons as a collective subject of rights and special protection.

This friendly settlement agreement featured other high-impact measures, including training sessions and learning materials for staff in the country's National Civil Status Register Office concerning gender identity, equality and non-discrimination against individuals with diverse gender identities, and a support protocol for individuals who request recognition of their gender identity. 

The IACHR is sorry about the death of Raiza Isabela Salazar, whose fight for truth and justice was acknowledged in the approval report that was recently issued in the context of the friendly settlement mechanism. The IACHR extends its condolences to her community, family, and other loved ones.

Case 13,778—Jorge Alirio Pulgarín Duque, Juan Amado Pulgarín Duque, and family concerns extrajudicial killings perpetrated by officers of Colombia's National Army. The State publicly acknowledged its international responsibility before the victims' family. A documentary that had been made to preserve the two men's legacy was shown during the event, where the State also made commitments concerning training, justice, and compensation.

A further significant case is Case 14,304—Jhon Fredy Lopera Jaramillo and family, concerning the disappearance of John Lopera while he was doing his mandatory military service. Given his absence, Lopera was convicted as a deserter by the military criminal justice system. The State held a public event to acknowledge its responsibility and made a documentary to restore Lopera's honor and dignity. The documentary was shown on May 23, 2024, during an IACHR visit to Colombia. This friendly settlement agreement further included justice, compensation, and rehabilitation measures in favor of the young conscript's family.

Finally, Case 14,541—José Enrique Caldas and family concerns the failure to investigate a homicide perpetrated by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and to punish the people responsible for it. During the event to acknowledge its international responsibility, the State presented the victims' representative with a memorial plaque in remembrance of Caldas' life, and the State committed to taking other measures of non-recurrence, among others.

The IACHR commends the parties on their efforts to attain friendly settlements. Friendly settlements help to restore the social fabric and to develop a culture that is based on peace. These agreements symbolize one more step in the direction of restorative justice and access to comprehensive redress for victims and their families. The IACHR commends the State on its good disposition—a State policy—to make progress through the friendly settlement mechanism in these and other matters. The IACHR stresses its commitment to supporting these processes until all commitments made in them have been reasonably implemented.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 157/25

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