security forces or members of paramilitary groups might understand these statements to constitute a license to attack members of non-governmental human rights organizations.17 40. In its 2001 annual report the IACHR expressed concern at the threats, naming in the media, harassment, assault, murder, and forced disappearance of human rights defenders in Colombia.18 The Commission said that in 2002 human rights defenders continued to be the targets of multiple threats and harassment to disrupt their task of the promotion and protection of human rights in Colombia.19 41. In its 2003 annual report the IACHR said that human rights defenders in Colombia “find the value of their work questioned in the media by officials, including the President.”20 Specifically, the Commission said that human rights defenders “have been faced with official criticism, twice by President Uribe himself, questioning their legitimacy and indicating plans to investigate their background and activities.”21 42. In its 2005 annual report, the Commission reiterated its recommendation that the State adopt urgent and effective measures to protect the lives and physical safety of the human rights defenders being threatened, and that these measures be arranged and decided upon in consultation with the defenders themselves.22 The Commission also reiterated its recommendation that an effective and thorough prevention policy be adopted, intended to prevent attacks on human rights defenders.23 43. In its 2006 and 2007 annual reports the Commission registered complaints about the electronic distribution of threats made against a number of human rights organizations that operate in different parts of the country,24and of acts of intimidation and theft of information at their offices.25 44. In its 2008 annual report the Commission noted the use of intelligence machinery against human rights defenders.26 It said that it took cognizance of memoranda issued by the DAS that requested that information be gathered on human rights organizations with “‘clandestine movements,’ terrorist groups, [or] outlawed groups.”27 It also mentioned: (…) [T]he State reported that the DAS officials responsible for the memorandum in question had been dismissed and the director of that institution had resigned. Quite apart from the importance of this information, which was also made public through the press, the IACHR is troubled by the existence of DAS policies on the collection of information connected with the activities of human rights defenders, community and political leaders, witnesses to human rights violations, and their protection, and it intends to follow up on this matter.28 45. In its 2009 annual report the IACHR observed that the DAS had reputedly intercepted the telephone calls of a large number of public figures, including human rights defenders.29 It said that it had received information about the creation of a group known as “G3”: IACHR, Third Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Colombia, February 26, 1999. Available at http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/Colom99en/table%20of%20contents.htm 18 IACHR, 2001 Annual Report, April 16, 2002, par. 13. Available at: http://www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2001eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 19 IACHR, 2002 Annual Report, March 7, 2003, par. 51. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2002eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 20 IACHR, 2003 Annual Report, December 29, 2003, par. 11. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2003eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 21 IACHR, 2003 Annual Report, December 29, 2003, par. 16. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2003eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 22 IACHR, 2005 Annual Report, February 27, 2006, par. 38. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2005eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 23 IACHR, 2005 Annual Report, February 27, 2006, par. 38. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2005eng/chap.4.htm#COLOMBIA 24 IACHR, 2006 Annual Report, March 3, 2007, par. 44. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2006eng/Chap.4a.htm 25 IACHR, 2007 Annual Report, December 29, 2007, par. 74. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2007eng/Chap.4a.htm 26 IACHR, 2008 Annual Report, February 25, 2009, par. 110. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2008eng/Chap4.b.eng.htm 27 IACHR, 2008 Annual Report, February 25, 2009, par. 118. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2008eng/Chap4.b.eng.htm 28 IACHR, 2008 Annual Report, February 25, 2009, par. 119. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2008eng/Chap4.b.eng.htm 29 IACHR, 2009 Annual Report, December 30, 2009, par. 123. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2009eng/Chap.IV.a.eng.htm 17 8