CONCURRING OPINION OF JUDGE RICARDO C. PÉREZ MANRIQUE CASE OF BEDOYA LIMA ET AL. V. COLOMBIA JUDGMENT OF AUGUST 26, 2021 (Merits, Reparations, and Costs) I. INTRODUCTION 1. The judgment declares violations of articles 1(1), 5(1), 5(2), 7, 11, and 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter the “Convention”) in relation to the obligations to respect and guarantee rights without discrimination and the duty to adopt domestic legal effects, established in articles 1(1) and 2 of the Convention. The case entails a series of human rights violations stemming from threats against and kidnapping, torture, and rape of journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima for reasons related to her profession and the State’s failure to adopt adequate and timely measures to protect her and prevent the facts from taking place. 2. I hereby concur with the provisions of the judgment and issue this opinion to go into further depth in the analysis of Ms. Bedoya's right to freedom of expression as a woman journalist. Because she is a woman journalist, she has been the victim of threats, kidnappings, harassment, and violations of her rights as forms of intimidation since the very start of her career. I therefore deem it is necessary to define clear guidelines and precise international standards for investigating these crimes against female journalists who are victims with regard to the exercise of their freedom of expression. 3. To this end, this opinion is structured as follows: First, freedom of expression is analyzed as a pillar of the rule of law and of a democratic society, and the conditions for exercising journalism during an armed conflict like the one in Colombia are succinctly addressed. Second, the case is approached from the perspective of the right to freedom of expression in the case of a female journalist, specifically the rape of and threats against Ms. Bedoya. Third, the State’s duties to protect women journalists are presented, emphasizing the obligation to implement comprehensive measures for prevention, protection, and administration of justice. 1