Protection Unit assess the requests and convene a meeting at the Ministry.”
Although the “channel of communication and dialogue had been requested
at the Ministry [...] the State affirmed in his report that the [CIJP] did not
facilitate communication with Danilo Rueda";
e) as to the measures taken by the State to address the risk faced by Danilo
Rueda, representatives noted that on May 13 a meeting convened by the
Foreign Ministry took place, in which delegates from the National Police, the
National Protection Unit, and the CIJP, as well as Mr. Danilo Rueda
participated. In that meeting, specific measures were agreed upon in order
to address the risk faced by Mr. Danilo Rueda 9, and
f)
12.
CIJP assessed that the actions proposed by the State to address the grave
danger faced by Danilo Rueda. In addition, they reiterated “the urgent need
that a periodic assessment be made of [...] the effectiveness, without the
request of the petitioners interceding.” They requested that “the measures
be effectively implemented, and [that] their effectiveness be assessed to
guarantee the life [and] integrity of Danilo Rueda, [and] to protect his
workspace in order for him to carry out his work as a defender of human
rights.” Finally, they asked the Court to “assume the monitoring of
compliance with the measures and urge the State [...] to ensure the life and
safety of Danilo Rueda, in the context of proceedings for provisional
measures.”
The brief of May 19, 2014, wherein the Inter-American Commission noted that:
a) "the State has not challenged the individual or rising risk faced by Mr.
Danilo Rueda, and it note[d] with concern that Danilo Rueda continue being
protected via the collective scheme implemented in favor of the members of
the [CIJP].” In this regard, the Commission "based its request for
provisional measures in that the collective scheme applied generally for
members of the organization has obvious limitations in terms of availability
due to its use by other members of the organization who are also at risk.”
According to the Inter-American Commission, this fact has “caused Mr.
Danilo Rueda, who has been the subject of more than 10 individualized
threats and harassment, to face situations where he is defenseless [...],
particularly during travel to other areas of the country where a protection
scheme is not authorized to accompany him.” It noted that it is "in his
travels where Mr. Danilo Rueda performs activities that place him in a
situation of extreme risk”;
9
According to representatives of the beneficiary, the measures agreed upon were as follows: "1. One of the
collective car services already assigned to the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission will be used
exclusively by Danilo Rueda [,] assigned so that the NPU makes it availabe for someone else from Colombia
who so requires[;] 2. We requested a motorcycle with escort and weapon to support Danilo Rueda’s
protection scheme[;] 3. A change in safety vests is required for a vest that is lighter and facilitates
travel[;][4]. The additional proposal made by NPU regarding additional gasoline for travel by Danilo Ruedo,
when regular allotment is exhausted, is assumed[;][5]. Direct communication with Colonel Arango was
assumed regarding alerting and transporting of Danilo Rueda to the regions where he carries out his work as
a member of the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission[;] [6]. The commitment on behalf of the NPU
to advance the protection measures at Danilo Rueda’s family home was assumed [...;] [7]. The commitment
made by the NPU to advance security measures [...] at the headquarters of the Inter-Church Justice and
Peace Commission in the city of Neiva was assumed [;][8]. [T]he commitment to summon the Attorney
General's Office at the end of May for a response regarding the requests for an investigation of the threats to
Danilo Rueda as member of Justice and Peace was assumed.”
12