guidance to media and journalists interested in the structuring of prevention protocols, analysis
of risks associated with journalism activity, financial support for the design and implementation
of prevention protocols, and availability of training on physical digital security.
(viii) that the National Protection Unit include in each resolution determining the level of a
person’s risk and the measures granted an explicit reference to the status of the investigation
into the facts giving rise to the risk and their impact on the risk analysis.
187. The State argued that Law 1448 of 2011, which establishes measures of care, support, and
comprehensive reparations for victims of the internal armed conflict, among other provisions, meets
the standards on reparation since it provides for a complete system to protect, assist, support, and
provide redress to the victims of the armed conflict. It also argued the following:
(i) Regarding the Commission’s request to adopt, from a gender perspective, effective
protection measures to guarantee the safety of female journalists who are subject to special
risk due to the exercise of their profession, it indicated that Colombia has measures of
protection in place to guarantee the safety of women journalists using a gender approach and
that, therefore, the measure is unnecessary. It added that today, this measure is underpinned
by a public policy, namely, the "Comprehensive Protection Policy and Guarantees for Social and
Community Leaders, Journalists and Human Rights Defenders," as well as the "Timely Action
Plan" and a strategy for investigating crimes against human rights defenders, which includes
journalists.
(ii) Regarding the Commission’s request to implement training programs: It indicated that
Colombia has been taking a number of actions in this regard, including training by the Justice
Strengthening Group that use a gender approach, under the Office of Formal Justice of the Vice
Ministry for the Promotion of Justice. Additionally, it pointed out it had launched “training on
the use of specific methodologies for investigating criminal threats" for prosecutors,
investigators, and State analysts in charge of investigating and prosecuting such crimes.
(iii) With regard to the Commission’s request to adopt measures to raise awareness in society
on gender-based violence against women journalists as attacks on freedom of expression and
disseminate clear information on the services and expression: it indicated that the State has
adopted different strategies, tools, and actions aimed at raising awareness on violence against
women. In particular, it pointed to the “RedConstruyendo” strategy, which seeks to facilitate
access to justice for women and the LGBTI population who are victims of sexual violence and
gender-based violence.
(iv) Regarding the request of the representatives to close the La Modelo Prison and transform
that space into a place of reflection and memory dedicated to women victims of sexual violence
and to investigative journalism: it opposed this measure, arguing that the facts surrounding
the situation at La Modelo Prison are contextual and do not overlap with the possible violations
alleged in this case. It added that the closure of the prison would be "excessively burdensome"
(costing approximately 444,480,000,000 million pesos), especially in view of country’s fiscal
situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It added that closing the prison is not “viable," as the
inmates could not be placed in other facilities. This "would lead to a massive overstretching of
detention center capacity, aggravating the impact on the human rights of the population
deprived of liberty." Alternatively, the State proposed the creation of a "center of memory and
dignity for all women victims of sexual violence in the context of the armed conflict," in which
the "participation of Jineth Bedoya would be fundamental." According to the State, in that space
for reflection “all the activities proposed in the [pleadings and motions brief] could be carried
out,” including the “permanent exhibitions on the work of Jineth Bedoya as a journalist and
defender of human rights and the rights of women, guaranteeing their preservation into the
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