Humanists urge Colombia to uphold secularism and indigenous rights

Speaking at the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Fundación Oniros Philosophie, Colombia, and Humanists International have called on the Colombian government to address the ways in which religious institutions undermine human rights, particularly in relation to historical violence, indigenous land rights, and financial privileges.

Delivering a statement in Spanish via video under Agenda Item 8 on the Vienna Declaration, Diego Andrés Vargas, Project Manager for Fundación Oniros Philosophie, an Associate Member of Humanists International criticized the role of the Catholic Church in Colombia’s history of violence, highlighting cases in which Catholic priests supported paramilitary forces. While the Church has played a role in reconciliation efforts, he noted that it has never issued a formal institutional apology for its complicity.

The statement also raised concerns about the impact of religious groups on indigenous rights and environmental protections. It pointed to deforestation caused by Mennonite communities, which has contributed to the erosion of indigenous land rights in Colombia and beyond. The Vienna Declaration recognizes the importance of protecting indigenous rights and meeting environmental needs equitably, yet religious institutions have been implicated in violating these principles.

Furthermore, Vargas condemned Colombia’s policy of granting tax exemptions to religious institutions, arguing that this deprives the state of much-needed public funds and creates opportunities for corruption and fraud.

While the statement was delivered in the General Debate under Item 9 of the Human Rights Council, Colombia, and the human rights issues in the country, are regularly reported on at the Council by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Featured photo by Flavia Carpio on Unsplash