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Colombia: Trade Unions

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 770W, on Colombia: trade unions, what reports his Department has seen on the number of trade unionists murdered in Colombia in the last 12 months; and how many murders are referred to in each such report. (308416)

In terms of formal cumulative reports, the Colombian Presidential Programme for Human Rights reports a total of 28 murdered trade unionists from January to November 2009 (down from 34 in the same period in 2008). Alternatively, the Escuela Nacional Sindicalista reports 36 trade unionists killed from 1 January to 30 November 2009 (against a total of 49 recorded for the whole of 2008).

We receive representations throughout the year from UK trade unions and non-governmental organisations about the number of murdered trade unionists in Colombia. Statistics tend to be based on a calendar year, rather than on a 12 month basis.