Colombia

4 mn readThe Colombian government is under pressure to investigate allegations of police sexual violence and excessive use of force against demonstrators. Colombian prosecutors and the ombudsman’s office have confirmed 23 reports of sexual violence committed by ESMAD, or Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron — out of 106 reports of violence against women and people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. The United Nations and the European Union warned of the violent militarized response and urged calm. An EU spokesperson said, “We condemn the deaths of all the people who have been killed during those protests.”