Annual Report Pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia

For the period of January 1 to December 31, 2023

• Executive Summary
  1. Introduction
  2. Reporting Requirements
     1. 2.1 Canada's Statutory Obligations
     2. 2.2 Time Period under Consideration
     3. 2.3 Actions under Consideration
     4. 2.4 Scope and Limitations
     5. 2.5 Human Rights under Consideration
  3. Colombian Human Rights Context
     1. 3.1 Current Status of Human Rights in Colombia
  4. Government of Canada’s Advocacy and Assistance for the Promotion of Human Rights in Colombia
     1. 4.1 Canadian Advocacy and Engagement on Human Rights in Colombia
     2. 4.2 Canada's International Assistance to Colombia.
     3. 4.3 Canada’s Promotion of Inclusive Trade in Colombia
     4. 4.4 Canada's Approach to Trade and Development
  5. Government of Canada’s Approach to Responsible Business Conduct and the Evaluation of Commercial Transactions on Human Rights
     1. 5.1 Responsible Business Conduct: Canada's Support and International Collaboration with Colombia
     2. 5.2 Canada’s Export Controls Review Process
     3. 5.3 Export Development Canada's Human Rights Evaluation Methodology
     4. 5.4 Canadian Commercial Corporation's Human Rights Evaluation Methodology
  6. The Canada-Colombia Trade Relationship
  7. Canada’s Actions under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2023
     1. 7.1 Overview of Actions Taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
     2. 7.2 Tariff Elimination Schedule
  8. Canada’s Actions under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and Environment Agreement
     1. 8.1 The Agreement on Labour Cooperation
     2. 8.2 The Environment Agreement
  9. Consultations
     1. 9.1 Public Consultations
     2. 9.2 Consultations with Provinces and Territories
  10. Conclusion
• Annexes

Executive Summary

Canada's 13^th annual report pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (the Agreement) includes a review of actions taken between January 1 and December 31, 2023 by the Government of Canada in the context of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA), the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Agreement on Labour Cooperation), and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement), and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

In accordance with the implementing legislation, section 15.1 of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Implementation Act), the scope of this report has retained its focus on the impacts of tariff reductions undertaken under the CCOFTA according to the Tariff Elimination Schedule of Canada. Only one tariff line remains to be liberalized under the CCOFTA, refined sugar, and the report found no impacts on human rights that could directly be associated with Canada's 2022 tariff reductions.

However, this report goes beyond the basic reporting requirements to include assessments of other issues, including the human rights context in Colombia, Canada’s programming, advocacy and capacity-building activities that promote human rights in Colombia, Canada’s mechanisms and tools to protect human rights in Colombia and an overview of the Canada-Colombia trade relationship.

To prepare this report, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation process in English, French and Spanish between February 12 and March 12, 2024. The Government of Canada was also interested in receiving written feedback regarding the adjustments that have been made to the format, content and methodology of Canada’s annual reports over the past three years, following the phased three-year plan. The Government of Canada received no submissions.

The Government of Canada also consulted with provincial and territorial governments on whether any of their respective human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments, questions or expressions of concern, related to human rights and the implementation of the CCOFTA in 2023. The Government of Canada received feedback from eight provinces indicating there were no comments or expressions of concern. Since the entry into force of the CCOFTA, no concerns have been registered via these mechanisms, which form part of the obligations under the agreement.

Colombia continues to face significant instability and insecurity. Armed groups and weak justice systems have led to increased poverty and violence faced by Colombians, particularly Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The 2016 peace accord between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government ended a five-decade-long conflict, which brought some initial declines in violence, but armed groups gained power and an upper hand by enacting new forms of violence in many remote areas. This has resulted in an increase of violence that have reached similar levels in 2023 to those that existed before the peace process. The confluence of different non-state armed groups that have sought to expand and/or consolidate their territory during 2023 continued to affect the civilian population. Colombia recorded a slight decrease in its homicide rate (25.6 per 100,000 people) compared to its 2022 rate (26.08 per 100,000 people),^{Footnote 1} and figures related to the number of human rights defenders killed ranged from 105 to 188 depending on the source. The Petro government’s Total Peace plan led to peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army or Ejército de Liberación Nacional in Spanish (ELN) and the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a FARC dissident group.

The promotion and protection of human rights is a key pillar of Canadian foreign policy. Government of Canada officials continue to raise human rights issues with the Government of Colombia at all levels, particularly as the government applies its ambitious Total Peace plan. The Government of Canada also continues to advocate for the full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, particularly the ethnic chapter and gender equality priorities. Canada continues to support the work of human rights defenders in Colombia. This remains an integral part of the human rights work undertaken by the Embassy of Canada to Colombia.

Canada and Colombia bilateral merchandise trade increased to $2.6 billion^{Footnote 2} in 2023, an increase of approximately 92.4% from pre-CCOFTA levels in 2010.co

As has been the case in previous years, the 13^th annual report is unable to demonstrate that any actions taken by the Government of Canada in 2023 through the implementation of the CCOFTA (i.e. tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA as well as actions taken under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation or the Environment Agreement) have had a direct impact on human rights in Canada or Colombia.

1. Introduction

Canada and the Republic of Colombia signed the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (the Agreement) on May 27, 2010. This unique agreement requires that Canada and Colombia each draft an annual report on the actions taken by the respective governments under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) and their impacts on human rights in both countries.

The Agreement entered into force on August 15, 2011, concurrently with the CCOFTA, alongside the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Agreement on Labour Cooperation); and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement).

This report is part of a broader dialogue between Canada and Colombia on human rights. A shared commitment to human rights is an essential aspect of the multifaceted Canada-Colombia relationship, which also includes close economic ties, longstanding development cooperation, support for Colombia's peacebuilding and stabilization efforts, and cooperation on regional and multilateral issues, including addressing the impact of unprecedented levels of Venezuelan migrants and refugees crossing into Colombia, as well as increased transcontinental migratory flows passing through the Darien Gap and heading to North America.

While recognizing the general improvement in human rights indicators over the last decade in Colombia, this report highlights the various challenges and risks associated with Colombia's security situation, as well as the alarming level of assassinations and threats against human rights defenders and community leaders at the hands of non-state armed groups.

2. Reporting Requirements

2.1 Canada's Statutory Obligations

Canada's obligations under the Agreement are incorporated into Canadian law under section 15.1 of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act (Implementation Act):

15.1 Pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of Parliament by May 15 of each year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the 30 days next thereafter that it is sitting, a report on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year, containing a general summary of all actions taken under the authority of this Act, and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia.co

2.2 Time Period under Consideration

The 13th annual report covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023, as the Implementation Act commits Canada to report "on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year."

2.3 Actions under Consideration

The Implementation Act specifies the Government of Canada is required to table a report on actions taken by the government under the authority of the Implementation Act within the designated time period and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia. As the Implementation Act includes the CCOFTA, the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Environment Agreement, this report considers actions taken under all three agreements.

2.4 Scope and Limitations

As the Implementation Act governs Canadian domestic implementation of the three agreements, this report only considers the impact on human rights of the Government of Canada’s actions under these agreements, including tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA, and actions under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Environment Agreement. Private sector activities are not within the scope of this report.

As a follow-up to the consultations undertaken with domestic stakeholders in 2019, some modifications to the report’s format, content and methodology have been phased in over three years. The modifications are also reflected in this year’s report.

2.5 Human Rights under Consideration

The promotion and protection of human rights are integral to Canadian foreign and domestic policies. In line with Voices at Risk: Canada's Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders, Canada promotes human rights and supports human rights defenders by: working in multilateral forums to strengthen international rules and norms and advocate for open civic space and human rights; engaging with local authorities through bilateral diplomacy; leveraging partnerships with other countries, civil society, Indigenous peoples and the private sector, including Canadian business interests abroad, and building capacity, including through funding for human rights organizations; and promoting responsible business conduct.

At home and abroad, the Government of Canada is working to promote gender equality, advance the rights of women and girls and Indigenous Peoples, and ensure access to justice. Internationally, Canada works through multilateral organizations, bilateral engagement, development and humanitarian assistance, political advocacy and trade policy to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as fundamental labour rights.

Canada's international engagement is based on the principle that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. Canada champions the values of inclusive and accountable governance by promoting human rights, women's empowerment and gender equality, peaceful pluralism, inclusion and respect for diversity.

This report joins a range of actions—including advocacy and bilateral and development cooperation—through which Canada supports Colombia's ongoing efforts towards greater peace, security, prosperity and respect for human rights.

3. Colombian Human Rights Context

Colombia is geographically large and ethnically diverse with a population of 52 million people. As an emerging free market economy with strong democratic traditions, Colombia is one of the latest countries to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Colombia has an advanced normative human rights framework, which has served as a model for other countries in the region and has ratified most international human rights instruments and International Labour Organization (ILO) fundamental conventions.^{Footnote 3}

In 2022, Colombia elected its first leftist government, in what was widely considered a free, fair and transparent electoral process.  President Gustavo Petro Urrego and Vice-President Francia Márquez—the first Afro-Colombian vice-president—took office on August 7, 2022. Local elections were held on October 29, 2023. Over the year, politically-motivated violence was commonplace, with the Electoral Observation Mission recording over 500 cases of aggression – a 74.5% increase compared with the same period 4 years earlier.^{Footnote 4}

Colombia has made significant strides in recent years to reduce poverty and violence through economic growth and social investment, and made important progress in strengthening peace, security, and the rule of law. Unfortunately, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including rapidly rising inflation, has affected these gains significantly. Its rural and remote areas face higher levels of poverty and violence, limited state presence, and illicit economies that fuel illegal armed groups and insecurity. According to the World Bank, Colombia is the twelfth most unequal country in the world.^{Footnote 5}

The 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has led to the demobilization and disarmament of thousands of former FARC combatants. However, significant challenges remain with its implementation, including delays in government investments, as well as tensions and violence surrounding the coca eradication process. In areas vacated by the former FARC, other non-state armed groups have filled the void by increasing or consolidating their presence and involvement in illegal economies, putting communities at risk. The increase in targeted killings and threats against community and social leaders is particularly concerning, occurring mostly in rural regions.

The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC)—whose mandate was extended until October 31, 2024—has supported the implementation of the peace agreement, with a focus on verifying the commitments related to the reintegration of former FARC members, as well as the guarantees of protection and security for communities in areas most affected by the conflict. Following a request from the Colombian government and demobilized FARC members, the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to expand UNVMC’s mandate to also monitor the implementation of the rural reform and ethnic chapters of the peace agreement.

In 2023, events in neighbouring Venezuela continued to significantly affect Colombia, especially in areas along the border, including the effects associated with Venezuelan migrants and refugees crossing into Colombia. Since 2017, Colombia has welcomed more than 2.88 million of the total 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees (5.5 per cent of Colombia’s population and 37 per cent of the total Venezuelan exodus) and more than half a million Colombian returnees.^{Footnote 6} This flow of migrants and refugees has placed additional strains on public services, including, health, education, and protection, particularly in border areas. To address this, in February 2022, the Colombian government launched the Temporary Protection Status to regularize Venezuelan migrants and refugees, allowing them to access social services and to seek employment. The new government of President Petro committed to continue implementing this measure. In 2022, the Petro government re-established diplomatic and military relations with Venezuela and re-opened their shared border, which had been closed since 2015.

In addition to the border region with Venezuela, other regions that experienced an increase in violence and forced displacements include the Pacific Coast (departments of Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Chocó). Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Peoples, especially women and LGBTI people, remain disproportionately affected by the deteriorating security situation in these regions. In addition, transcontinental migration flows passing through the Darien Gap increased from 133,000 in 2021 to 250,000 in 2022, and over half a million are calculated to have crossed this dangerous jungle in 2023.^{Footnote 7}

3.1 Current Status of Human Rights in Colombia

Despite a general improvement in Colombia’s human rights record over the last decade, particularly due to the 2016 peace agreement, the last five years have seen an alarming increase in targeted threats against, and killings of, human rights defenders (HRDs) and community leaders. According to the human rights ombudsman's Office, 181 social leaders and human rights defenders were killed in 2023 (215 in 2022).^{Footnote 8}The vast majority of these incidents occurred in regions that were and remain at the centre of the internal armed conflict.

Different organizations have different metrics and methods for tracking this type of violence and so this report considers metrics from several organizations to get a more complete picture of Colombia’s human rights situation. In 2023, Colombia recorded a slight decrease in its homicide rate (25.6 per 100,000 people) compared to its 2022 rate (26.08 per 100,000 people).^{Footnote 9} Despite this decrease, the homicide rate remains higher than 2020 levels when the country recorded its lowest homicide rate since 1974 (24.3 per 100,000 people). Indepaz, a Colombian non-profit organization focused on human rights, reported 188 killings of HRDs and community leaders^{Footnote 10} and 93 massacres—defined as the killing of three or more people during a single attack—which resulted in the deaths of an additional 300 people in 2023.^{Footnote 11} Meanwhile, the Colombian Ombudsman (La Defensoría del Pueblo) tracked 181 killings of HRDs and community leaders in 2023, a marked decrease from 215 it recorded in 2022.^{Footnote 12} Finally, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) received 233 allegations of killings of HRDs and verified 105 of those, with 128 found to be inconclusive; they also received 123 cases of possible massacres and verified 98 of them.^{Footnote 13}

In 2023, Colombia experienced the highest number of human trafficking complaints in the last 15 years, with a total of 264 reported cases according to the Crime Observatory of Human Trafficking of the Ministry of the Interior.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), mass forced displacement and confinement respectively decreased 22.9% and 14.3% in 2023 compared with 2022. ^{Footnote 14} Other key concerns are: child recruitment by non-state armed groups; high levels of sexual and gender-based violence; homicides and threats against vulnerable groups (LGBTI, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in particular); extorsion; and use of antipersonnel mines. Reprisal killings of demobilized FARC members is also a concern. According to Indepaz, 44 assassinations of ex-FARC combatants were reported in 2023, two more than the 42 assassinations reported in 2022.^{Footnote 15}

Violence has remained alarmingly high despite Colombian authorities’ efforts to continue implementing a series of early warning and protection measures for human rights defenders (HRDs) under threat. While the government was hoping that the ceasefires with different illegal armed groups would contribute to HRDs’ safety, it did not translate in noticeable improvements. Civil society actors remain concerned about a lack of resources and inadequate funding, leading to a lack of effective protection measures or prevention efforts.

In the void left by the departure of the FARC, non-state armed groups occupy territories in many regions of the country, including vestiges of former paramilitary organizations, dissident FARC combatants, as well as the National Liberation Army or Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). By many accounts, and according to most Colombian non-governmental organizations working on human rights, including Somos Defensores (We are Defenders), the situation in some parts of the country is returning to the levels of violence reported prior to the 2016 peace agreement.

Total Peace Plan

On November 4, 2022, the “Total Peace” plan became law in Colombia, providing the legal framework for the Colombian government to advance peace negotiations with all non-state armed groups with political aims, such as the ELN and dissident FARC groups. It also allows the government to work with the judiciary to peacefully dismantle apolitical non-state armed groups, including large criminal organizations and paramilitary groups, such as the Clan del Golfo and urban gangs.

In November 2023, the Constitutional Court concluded the revision of lawsuits against the Total Peace law and while it approved it, some provisions were considered unconstitutional, such as the release of convicted persons, which will only be possible through the decision of a judge, and made some precisions, for instance, that concentration and clearance zones can only be established once the negotiation processes have advanced and that a law must define how criminal organisations that do not have political aims will be subdued. In March 2023, the government had unsuccessfully presented a bill to Congress to collectively bring criminal groups to justice, proposing reduced sentences and benefits in exchange. As it was not approved, the Government currently has no legal instruments to advance these processes.

The government set up peace negotiations with the ELN, the largest remaining political non-state armed group with about 5,900 members across Colombia, and with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), with an estimate of 3,500 members and made up of former FARC dissidents who did not join or abandoned the 2016 Peace Agreement. As part of both processes, bilateral and temporary ceasefires were declared. On January 14, 2024, the government and the EMC announced the extension of the ceasefire until July 15, while the ceasefire with the ELN was extended on February 6^th, 2024, until August 3, 2024^{Footnote 16}. Over the past several years, the Government of Colombia has shown a commitment to improving the human rights situation in the country, having introduced several precedent-setting initiatives and instruments to assist victims of the armed conflict, such as the Victims Law (1468, modified in 2021 for an additional 10 years) and the Land Restitution Law (1448) of 2011. In January 2023, the OHCHR and the Government of Colombia signed an agreement, extending the presence of OHCHR in Colombia until 2032.^{Footnote 17} In July 2023 the High Commissioner appointed Antonia Urrejola Noguera as International Human Rights Expert to detect and verify obstacles to the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement.^{Footnote 18} In November 2023, Colombia’s Universal Periodic Review was conducted. Canada commends Colombia's commitment to peace and its focus on gender equality in peacebuilding, while also expressing concern over impunity for human rights violations. Canada recommends that Colombia accelerate the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, involve civil society and youth in policy design, ensure participation of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombians in decision-making, and strengthen efforts to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers.^{Footnote 19} The current Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implement the 2016 Peace Agreement, with a special focus on land reform. By December 2023, the current administration had acquired nearly 81,930 hectares of land and formalized 451,459 hectares.^{Footnote 20} The initial target set by the government was purchasing 3 million hectares to advance the land reform.

Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition (CEV)

On June 28, 2022, the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition (CEV), a non-judicial body, presented its final report on the complex causes and the multifaceted consequences of Colombia’s armed conflict, as well as recommendations to promote peace and reconciliation. This was a watershed moment in Colombia’s peace process. The CEV was created along with the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP by its Spanish acronym) and the Unit for the Search for Disappeared Persons as part of the Integrated System of Justice, Truth, Reparations and Guarantees of Non-Repetition, through the 2016 peace agreement, with the rights of victims as its guiding principle. In 2023, the 10-volume report of the Commission was delivered to the Colombian General Archive, making it accessible to the public in August 2023.

The report found that 450,664 people died due to the armed conflict between 1985 and 2018, 90% of whom were civilians. It also found less than 2 per cent of the deaths occurred in combat. If all forms of violence are considered, the report estimates there were approximately 9 million victims representing 20 per cent of Colombia’s population: at least 121,768 people disappeared (90 per cent civilians), at least 55,770 were kidnapped, and at least 7.7 million people were displaced.^{Footnote 21}

Commission President Father Francisco de Roux presented the report to then President-elect Gustavo Petro, who expressed his commitment to peace and acknowledged the importance of truth to end cycles of armed violence and open dialogues.^{Footnote 22} A committee was created to follow-up and monitor the final report’s recommendations.

In July 2023, the Committee presented its first report related to the progress made on the adoption of the Report’s recommendations. It highlighted that only 20% of the recommendations have been included in the 2022-2026 National Development Plan after Congress rejected an article intended to integrate the Commission's findings more comprehensively. The Committee noted that the legislative branch has not prioritized these recommendations, despite the government's efforts to do so. Additionally, only a tenth of the projects presented to Congress were related to the Commission's recommendations. Beyond the National Development Plan, 11 recommendations are being implemented and 40 proposals are already part of the 2016 Peace Accord. Some recommendations that have not been followed include changing the election system for the Attorney General, creating a Ministry for Peace and Reconciliation, and enacting political reforms. Some of the few advances include the creation of the Ministry of Equality and Equity, a new focus on the drug and security policy, and measures taken to revert concentration of land ownership.^{Footnote 23}

Special Jurisdiction for Peace (in Spanish: Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, JEP)

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), Colombia’s transitional justice tribunal was set up to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes committed during the armed conflict between the FARC and the Colombian government. The JEP has jurisdiction over the serious Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law violations committed prior to the signing of the Peace Agreement on December 1, 2016, and in the context of the armed conflict in Colombia. It began operation in 2017.

In 2023, the JEP continued its critical work in transitional justice, addressing significant cases and advancing the peace process. One of the notable developments was the JEP's handling of Case 03, which involves assassinations and forced disappearances presented as killings during combat by State agents. In this case, twelve former members of the armed forces acknowledged their responsibility for these crimes in the Caribbean region.

Additionally, the JEP made significant progress in addressing sexual and gender violence during the armed conflict. It was reported that at least 35,178 people had suffered from sexual, gender, and reproductive violence. The JEP has opened a dedicated case (Case 11) focusing on violence perpetrated by FARC-EP members against civilians, violence committed by members of the State security forces against civilians, and violence within the ranks of both the FARC-EP and the state security forces.

Moreover, the JEP indicted Mario Montoya, the former commander of the Colombian army from 2002 until 2006, for his involvement in the extrajudicial killings of 130 civilians. This indictment is part of the JEP's broader effort to address the widespread practice of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances by the armed forces of Colombia, particularly between 2002 and 2008.

Ministry of Equality and Equity
In December 2022, Colombia’s Congress approved a bill creating the Ministry of Equality and Equity, with Vice-President Francia Márquez as Minister of Equality. The Ministry, officially launched in 2023, has the mandate to implement policies and programs aimed at eliminating economic, political and social inequalities to guarantee equality for those who have been “historically excluded”: women in all their diversities; LGBTI people; children and youth; ethnic communities; farmers (campesinos y campesinas); people with disabilities, families living in poverty; homeless people; elderly people; and people “living in excluded territories.” The Ministry was allocated an initial budget of about 500 million pesos (approximately $165 million), sourced from the revenues generated by tax reforms. It was organized into five deputy ministries, along with 20 technical directors and 32 territorial directors, reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing inequality across different sectors and regions of the country.

The launch of the Ministry was not without criticism. Some opposition members viewed it as an unnecessary expansion of bureaucracy and have since criticized what they perceive to be a slow implementation phase of its wide mandate. However, supporters of the Ministry considered it a crucial step towards tackling the country's historical challenges of inequality.

4. Government of Canada’s Advocacy and Assistance for the Promotion of Human Rights in Colombia

The Government of Canada maintains a whole-of-government approach to its bilateral relations with Colombia through its political, consular, commercial, international assistance, and peace and security activities and programming. Canada leverages various aspects of its bilateral engagement and programming tools in Colombia in order to support Colombia's efforts to address human rights challenges.

Canada plays a leading role within the international community in Colombia on the promotion of human rights. In addition to significant programming aimed directly at improving human rights conditions in Colombia, the Government of Canada holds regular human rights consultations with the Government of Colombia as part of its broader bilateral consultations. Canada also regularly engages with Colombian civil society organizations, human rights defenders, unions, journalists, women's organizations, international humanitarian agencies, UN agencies, and government bodies.

4.1 Canadian Advocacy and Engagement on Human Rights in Colombia

Throughout 2023, Canada continued raising concerns with the Government of Colombia at various levels. Examples include highlighting the situation of marginalized and vulnerable populations, specific cases of imminent threats against members of civil society organizations, and advocacy for corrective actions. Canada also continues to actively advocate for the promotion and protection of women's rights and gender equality in Colombia.

Promoting respect for and supporting human rights defenders is an integral part of the human rights work undertaken by the Embassy of Canada to Colombia. In line with Voices at Risk: Canada's Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders, Canada’s approach to supporting human rights defenders is based on three key values: 1) human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated; 2) do no harm—the safety and privacy of the human rights defenders are paramount; and 3) consent—actions on specific cases should be taken with the free, full, and informed consent of the human rights defenders in question, wherever possible, or of their representatives or families, in the alternative.

Canada contributes directly to the protection of human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia through different programming channels such as: the Women's Voice and Leadership project, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs). The latter provides contributions directed to the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund and other projects focused on accessing rights to justice through the transitional justice system and strengthening Indigenous protection mechanisms so that they better respond to the needs of Indigenous women and girls. In 2023-2024, a CFLI project with COALICO aimed to strengthen civil society organizations to monitor and report on grave violations against children and youth and prevent their recruitment into armed and violent groups. The PRIDE P007298 project (2020-2028) complemented this by providing volunteer placements to enhance COALICO's capacity to advocate for children's rights, including their active participation, with upcoming plans for a gender and inclusion workshop with local partners in Bogota in 2024-2025. Another 2023-2024 CFLI project, in partnership with CREDHOS, strengthened the protection of the environment and water sources, and provided legal accompaniment to rural farming organizations, environmental leaders, afro-Colombian communities and fishermen/women in the municipalities of the Magdalena Medio region. This project contributed both to the protection of the environment and to the protection of threatened environmental defenders.

The Women's Voice and Leadership project has placed special emphasis on the rights of women. Results up to March 2023 include: 1) 15 Women’s Rights Organizations and national networks receive ongoing funding and technical support to strengthen their management and programming for women’s rights, reaching additional 35 grassroots organizations and women’s collectives. 41% of project participants are young women, 27% identify as Afro-Colombian women, 33% are indigenous women, and 40% are rural mestizo women; (2) 13 Women’s Rights Organizations receiving multi-year funding are implementing programs to promote and protect women and girls’ rights, increasing their participation in decision-making scenarios, and implementing advocacy campaigns that have reached 26,462 people; (3) Two national rural women networks receiving direct funding report an improvement in collaboration and collective actions with their members, with Women’s Rights Organizations and networks influencing 25 laws and public policies at the national and local levels. The project continues to place a special focus in security of WROs and networks, and it is improving the capacity of WROs for risk analysis and protection strategies, partnering with Protection International. In 2022-2023, the 6 organizations with the highest level of risk were prioritized to receive capacity building and enhance their protection plans.

Embassy representatives meet regularly with human rights officials, such as the Representative of the Colombian Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Human Rights Ombudsperson (Defensor del Pueblo), the Presidential Advisor for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Inspector General (Procuradora General), human rights directors from the Ministries of Defence and Interior, in addition to numerous civil society organizations. Officials from Global Affairs Canada also hold meetings in Canada with Colombian and Canadian civil society organizations to discuss their ongoing concerns surrounding human rights and Colombia's peace implementation, especially threats and killings of social leaders and HRDs. These meetings provide Canadian officials the opportunity to hear first-hand about the challenges facing communities in Colombia, especially in remote and rural areas. When the embassy receives credible information regarding threats or attacks against known HRDs, the Ambassador sends letters to the relevant Colombian authorities to raise the issue, share our concerns, and ask for effective measures to be taken to protect the individuals and investigate the matter.

In 2023, the Embassy of Canada to Colombia began its two-year mandate as Chair of the International Cooperation Gender Roundtable, composed of 51 international cooperation agencies, United Nations System agencies and international NGOs. As per FIAP, gender equality is a transversal theme in all of Canada’s international assistance programming in Colombia and globally.

In 2023, the Embassy of Canada to Colombia conducted several visits to conflict-affected regions to visit communities and meet with civil society actors and local authorities.

These field visits included visiting partners of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. In 2023, the embassy visited Buenaventura, Barrancabermeja, Dabeiba, Leticia, and Indigenous communities from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (in Pueblo Bello and Narakajmanta). These visits allowed for monitoring projects but also meeting with community leaders and conflict-affected populations and listen to their concerns.

In April, the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas visited Colombia and held different meetings with both government and civil society regarding the Venezuela migrant and refugee crisis.

In July, the Ambassador travelled to Northeastern Antioquia to meet with human rights defenders and community leaders from Segovia and Remedios to hear about the dire security conditions and social control from illegal armed groups present in this isolated area.

During 2023, the Canadian Embassy provided sustained support for the process of building Colombia’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, notably by taking part in every regional meeting (Cali, Barranquilla, Medellin, Bucaramanga, Villavicencio and Bogota) aimed at gathering input from women from all regions of the country, in all their diversity. The Embassy also contributed to fund the Indigenous Women’s Forum in Bogota, in August.

In August, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill, visited Colombia and met with key interlocutors from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence, she participated in the Indigenous Women's Forum, and visited the conflict-affected municipality of Barrancabermeja, where she met with community leaders and human rights defenders.

Most notably, also in August, the Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, visited Colombia and held meetings with Vice President, Francia Márquez, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alvaro Leyva, and the UN System to discuss Canada’s IA efforts in Colombia with a focus on gender equality, rural development,  the impact of the internal conflict, particularly against social leaders and human rights defenders, and peace and security. He also travelled to the border department of La Guajira, where he visited Canada-funded programming and launched the CanGIVE vaccination project, and met with Venezuelan migrants, returnees and host communities to gain a better understanding of the challenges and impact of one of the world's largest ongoing migration flows and how Canada can best respond.

These visits (including others conducted virtually or monitoring visits) enable Canadian officials to meet with local government and security authorities, civil society organizations, rural communities, including women, Indigenous and Afro-Colombians, regional human rights ombudspersons, and members of international non‑governmental organizations that are active in the field.

In the spirit of constructive cooperation, Canadian officials will continue to raise human rights issues with the Government of Colombia at all levels, particularly as the country works to implement an ambitious, historic, and multifaceted post-agreement peacebuilding implementation plan, as well as the new government’s Total Peace policy. Canada will also continue to play a leading role within the international community in order to monitor the human rights situation in the post-peace agreement context, particularly in remote areas where Canadian companies are located, as well as in regions impacted by continued migration from Venezuela.

4.2 Canada's International Assistance to Colombia

Canada and Colombia share 50 years of collaborative engagement on development cooperation. Canada's international assistance profile in Colombia has reached more than $62.8 million in 2022/2023 and stems from various programs.

Since 2013/14, Canada's total official international assistance to Colombia amounts to more than $560 million, delivered via a diverse range of civil society, multilateral, academic, private sector and government partners. This includes bilateral assistance, such as peace and security initiatives, humanitarian assistance and institutional support to multilateral organizations, as well as official development assistance via other channels, such as the International Development Research Centre, international financial institutions, provinces and municipalities and other government departments. Through its investments, Canada supports Colombia's ambitious and transformational peace and development agenda, including through a focus on peacebuilding, inclusive economic growth, human rights, women's empowerment, rural education and innovation.

Decades of violence have deeply affected Colombia, resulting in inequality, poverty and insecurity being concentrated in the Pacific, Amazon and border regions. Canada's international assistance focusses on working with the national government and local actors to reduce poverty, advance gender equality and support peace through innovative partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In keeping with Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada's international assistance programming priorities include:

• Advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, including by strengthening women’s rights organizations, working to expand access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, addressing gender budgeting in the National Development Plan and national-local budgets, and supporting comprehensive national and local care systems.
• Supporting access to quality education for vulnerable populations, particularly to migrants and those living in rural areas;
• Building sustainable and inclusive economic growth and employment, with a focus on rural, conflict-affected areas;
• Supporting Colombia’s efforts to unlock private sector capital for development, including social impact investing in rural areas;
• Responding to the needs of Venezuelan migrants, refugees and host communities, supporting their socio-economic integration, and contributing to governmental policies on migration;
• Contribute to Canada's international climate finance commitment by increasing climate resilience and food security for indigenous and rural communities;
• Promoting human rights and victims’ assistance;
• Engaging in peace and security programming, including through continued support to the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, and humanitarian assistance
• Promoting gender advocacy through the Working Group on Gender Equality and support to the creation of Colombia's first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security;
• Deploying the Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism to support strategic Government of Colombia needs in the areas of migration, innovation, and justice.

Human Rights Promotion and Protection

Under Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canadian international assistance takes a feminist, human rights-based and inclusive approach. This includes a strong focus on helping protect and promote the human rights of groups in the most vulnerable situations, as well as increasing their participation and inclusion in equal decision-making. Canada has traditionally supported the protection needs of internally displaced persons and children, particularly in terms of preventing recruitment into armed conflict. Through the CFLI, Canada also supports local development assistance initiatives in Colombia aimed at promoting human rights (particularly those of women, Indigenous Peoples and LGBTQI groups), governance and democracy.  

See Annex 6 for select examples of international assistance programming linked to human rights promotion in Colombia in 2023.

Supporting Conditions for Lasting Peace

Canada continued delivering upon its commitment of more than $78 million in funding for peacebuilding efforts in Colombia since 2012, including $25.3 million in active programming during 2023. These efforts include:

• Full implementation of five development projects to support Colombia's peace efforts totalling $57.4 million. These projects are focused on demining, child protection, credit for farmers in areas affected by the conflict, rural education, and peace implementation.
• Contribution by the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) of $48.2 million to peace implementation projects in Colombia since 2016, including $1.4 million in 2023. Programming since 2016 has included strengthening of national demining capacity and the delivery of mine risk education to affected communities, support to transitional justice, human rights and civilian protection, as well as support to civil society and women's participation in the implementation of the peace process, including through an intersectional approach with a focus on ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people. Support for the participation of these groups is vital to pave the way for long-term peacebuilding in conflict-affected communities.
• Key support by PSOPs to the OAS-MAPP to monitor and promote human rights and the protection of vulnerable communities and individuals in the post-Peace Accord context.
• PSOPs funding to the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF): a $7.3 million contribution for 2019-2023 (totalling $27.3 million since 2016) supporting the implementation of thematic and territorial priorities related to the peace agreement, as defined by the Government of Colombia. These include integral reparation for victims, guarantee for truth, justice, and non-repetition, security guarantees for human rights defenders and human rights organizations, gender equality and women's empowerment, mine action and communication at the territorial level of progress regarding stabilization and peace consolidation.

In 2023, Canada took careful note of the various concerns expressed by the international community and Colombian civil society of delays in implementing promised peace programs, review of key provisions of the peace agreement and the increased killings of community and social leaders in rural Colombia. In bringing attention to these issues and seeking avenues of cooperation with the Government of Colombia and others, Canada continues to support constructive ways forward on the implementation of the peace agreement.

In recent years, Canada has taken steps to recognize the role of social leaders and organizations in supporting peace-building efforts through the Global Pluralism Award, the regional Human Rights Leaders Award, and the CaMina Award, awarded jointly by the Embassies of Belgium and Canada. In 2023, the second Canadian Women, Peace and Security Award for Civil Society Leadership (for year 2022) was awarded to a Colombian Women’s organization, Organización Femenina Popular. It was the second year in a row that a Colombian organization won the award.

Working together, Canada and Colombia are collaborating to reach the most vulnerable women, girls and families in Colombia's conflict-affected regions. This includes efforts to provide higher quality and more accessible rural education, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights, in order to break the cycle of poverty and gender-based violence and tackle some of the barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential. Canada also supports efforts to respond to emergency needs through the provision of gender-responsive humanitarian assistance, particularly along Colombia's Pacific coast and in border regions. Canada is also strengthening the capacity of local women's organizations through the Women's Voice and Leadership (WVL) project in Colombia and has incorporated self-protection training for women social leaders. Since 2022, the project partnered with Protection International, who delivered specific training on risk analysis and self-protection strategies to rural, indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders from 15 women’s rights organizations and networks supported by WVL.

Canada is working to leverage private sector relationships and civil society expertise to bring economic opportunities to rural, conflict-affected areas, targeting women and underemployed youth. These efforts are employing proven models for agricultural cooperatives and rural financing. Canada is currently implementing an innovative results-based payments project with cacao producers in conflict-affected areas that provides licit economic opportunities and improved livelihoods for rural producers in a growing economic niche. In 2023, it started implementing the Rural Entrepreneurship for Women in Agricultural Rural Development project, designed to help improve sustainable livelihoods, economic well-being and influence of rural women and youth in post-conflict and poverty-stricken areas of the country.

Through the implementation of Canada's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Canada is supporting stabilization and longer-term peacebuilding efforts, including transitional justice, human rights and security sector transformation. Discussions are also underway since 2022 to assist the Colombian government in developing its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Canada recognizes the impact of the Venezuelan migration crisis on Colombia and the additional strains it has put on health and education systems across the country, particularly in border areas. Since 2019, Canada has provided over $180 million in humanitarian, development and security assistance to respond to this crisis, both within Venezuela and across the LAC region, of which $80.5 million supported Venezuelan refugees and migrants and host communities in Colombia. This includes investments in migrant education as a follow up to Canada's G7 Charlevoix commitments. In 2022, Canada pursued the implementation of new initiatives aimed at improving access to education for girl migrants; protecting unaccompanied migrant and refugee children; addressing sexual and gender-based violence and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights for this population, as well as providing concessional financing and economic integration measures to facilitate access to jobs and basic social services for migrants and refugees.

Canada continues to participate with Colombia in the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF), which provides development support to middle-income countries impacted by refugee crises across the world. It is also providing support to protect migrant children on the move in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, strengthening sexual and reproductive health rights and services for migrants in Colombia and Ecuador, and improving labour inclusion by providing market-driven training for migrants, women and at-risk youth and helping to connect them with employers to secure jobs.

Supporting Resilient Health System by providing Services to All

As part of Canada's effort to support effective and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Program of Global Affairs Canada has established a $50 million project (2021-2023) in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This project now terminated specifically addressed the needs of populations in situations of vulnerability, with a focus on Venezuelan migrants residing in Colombia and five other countries (Peru, Brazil, Ecuador Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago). Through this project, PAHO provided vaccine procurement and deliveries, comprehensive technical assistance, cold-chain equipment and comprehensive health communication to Colombia and participating countries in delivering safe and quality vaccines to Venezuelan migrants. For this project, $7.8 million has been directed to Colombia supporting the country until the end of its emergency response. Building on this support, Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE) efforts in Colombia through PAHO, amounting to $10.5 million, is now focused primarily on scaling up COVID vaccine delivery and routine immunization by providing trainings to health care workers, facilitating the digitization  process of national and departmental health information systems, planning campaigns increasing vaccine confidence and demand, particularly amongst minority groups including women, migrants, indigenous and afro descents populations and facilitating informed decision-making process through various studies since 2022 and until 2025.

4.3 Canada’s Promotion of Inclusive Trade in Colombia

Through the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Canada is advancing an inclusive trade and investment agenda that specifically aims to promote responsible business practices by Canadian companies operating in the region. In 2023, Canada supported gender-equality training sessions for private sector companies in male-dominated industries and Canada’s Technical Assistance Partnership –Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) completed a project focussed on developing a gender strategy for the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy.  Canada is also promoting and supporting the Colombian Mining Association’s adoption of the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining standard. Canada is deepening cooperation with Colombia on inclusive trade, specifically on trade and gender through the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA). Colombia joined GTAGA on June 13, 2022, to work closely with Canada and other members (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador Mexico, New Zealand, and Peru) to promote gender responsive trade policies and advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Canada would also welcome Colombia interest in joining the Inclusive Trade Action Group (ITAG) and the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA).

4.4 Canada's Approach to Trade and Development

Canada's approach to the trade and development nexus stems from the belief that sustainable economic growth is the leading factor driving poverty reduction. Inclusive Trade and Development are mutually reinforcing and, when pursued together, can strengthen global prosperity, resilience and stability, and contribute to advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

An integrated approach is needed to sustain development gains of recent decades, reinforce resilience to future shocks and position countries to meet the challenges of climate change and the digital economy, as well as incentivize economies that support equality and inclusion. Canada's Feminist Foreign Policy offers a valuable overarching rubric, as it seeks to address systemic barriers that prevent all people from enjoying the same human rights and having the same opportunities to succeed. Complementary objectives are outlined in its Inclusive Trade Agenda, Trade Diversification Strategy, and Feminist International Assistance Policy, notably the Action Areas on Growth that Works for Everyone (GROWE). Canada advances inclusive growth by supporting efforts that reduce barriers to women's economic empowerment, build more inclusive and sustainable economies, and strengthen economic resilience.

Canada supports developing countries' capacities to reap the full benefits from trade in several ways, including by promoting an enabling environment by strengthening human capital (health and education), good governance, rule of law, and government capacity to provide public services and productive capacities. This is done through trade policy support, trade-related infrastructure support, and productive capacity building that strengthens small business value chains. Some of the projects Canada supports or is financing in Colombia that include a trade and development nexus are:

The Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) responds to the demands from national-level entities in ODA-eligible countries through the deployment of Canadian experts from Canadian civil society, academia, and the private sector. Aligned with the FIAP, the program enables Canada to advance international assistance and foreign policy priorities while promoting Canadian expertise, values and leadership abroad. In 2023, TAP-EDM supported Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy to develop a gender strategy to mainstream a gender-based approach, seeking to strengthen technical capabilities, leadership skills and inclusion of women in the mining-energy sector. During 2023, Colombia's National Planning Department has received technical assistance on data management and analysis that will help prioritize the socio-economic integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees.

The Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) project deploys Canadian and international technical experts to assist Colombia and other developing countries negotiate, implement, adapt to and benefit from bilateral or regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (FIPAs) with Canada. Normally Canadian and international experts would design training workshops, study tours and similar activities for representatives of the Colombian government, private sector, civil society and community groups to enhance their awareness of international trade rules and regulations including human rights issues, such as the participation of women, small farmers and marginalized groups in trade policy discussions and equal access to the benefits of trade with Canada and more broadly. To this effect, the EDM project in Colombia, which runs from 2018-2025, has delivered training workshops and organizational support aimed at promoting trade benefits to women entrepreneurs, Indigenous people, Afro Colombians, and other marginalized groups. This includes: raising awareness of gender equality and social inclusion considerations in government procurement; undertaking a needs assessment survey of programs and services offered by the National Association of Exporters of Colombia (ANALDEX) affiliates to identify opportunities for advancing gender equality and social inclusion; a training and business guide for agricultural producer associations (41% female participation) on export development, including improving access and knowledge for groups of women, Indigenous people, and vulnerable communities; and e-commerce training and a business guide to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for SMEs, particularly those led by women, Indigenous people or other marginalized groups. In 2023, ProColombia and Canada supported the expansion of export opportunities, with a focus on developing LGBTQ+ and community-based tourism and increasing the capacity of agricultural producers to access export markets.

Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (WIT) is a 5-year (2019-2024), $14.6 million project, facilitated by the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO Canada), with a contribution of $11.7 million from Global Affairs Canada in 24 countries. WIT seeks to contribute to inclusive growth by increasing the number of women from developing countries involved in international trade as exporters, increasing the share of exports generated by women-led Small and Medium Enterprises, and addressing the main constraints faced by women exporters such as lack of market knowledge, skills, resources and networks to access global trade. In Colombia, WIT focuses on the agri-food sector benefiting a number of organizations including 50% women-led SMEs looking to sell their products in Canada such as organic certified panela, fresh avocado, aromatics, fresh pineapple and healthy snacks. The project also supports the services sectors targeting the Canadian market while benefiting 100% women-led SMEs offering software, videogames, animation and audiovisual products. Through a Memorandum of Understanding between ProColombia and TFO Canada, selected Colombia SMEs have access to training opportunities on export plan elaboration, environmental practices, digital marketing and e-commerce, among other topics.

The Pacific Alliance (PA) Education for Employment (EFE) Program is a $16.2 million seven-year (2016-2023) initiative designed to increase socio-economic opportunities for women and men, notably youth and Indigenous Peoples in a sustainable and inclusive extractive sector in the PA countries. The program supports the governance of the extractive sector by strengthening dialogue between private and public sector and civil society stakeholders in the countries of the PA and Canada around sustainable and inclusive policies and best practices. This project promotes responsible natural resource management and commercial practices, including through training for the qualification and employability of women and on environmental management and rehabilitation of mining sites; and by organizing forums to disseminate policies related to Gender Equality, Indigenous Peoples, Environment and Education.

5. Government of Canada’s Approach to Responsible Business Conduct and the Evaluation of Commercial Transactions on Human Rights

5.1 Responsible Business Conduct: Canada's Support and International Collaboration with Colombia

a) Canada's Support in Colombia

Canada's approach to responsible business conduct (RBC) abroad sets clear expectations for Canadian companies to respect human rights in all their operations abroad and adopt best practices and internationally respected guidelines on RBC. In 2022, Canada launched its current RBC Strategy: Responsible Business Conduct Abroad: Canada’s Strategy for the Future. The 5-year Strategy (2022-2027) strengthens Canada’s balanced approach to RBC, which includes preventative measures, legislation in select areas, and access to non-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms. The new strategy applies to all Canadian companies active abroad, regardless of size, sector or scope and reaffirms Canada’s expectation that Canadian companies contribute to sustainable development and support Canada’s commitments to human rights by integrating responsible business practices throughout their operations, including international supply chains. The Government of Canada endorses and promotes international RBC standards and guidelines, including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

The Embassy of Canada to Colombia provides a high level of RBC-related service to the Canadian business community in Colombia, building networks with key stakeholders, engaging communities, and reinforcing Canadian leadership, excellence and best practices, especially in the extractive sector. This is achieved through regular meetings with Canadian companies, sharing of key documents and information produced by the Government of Canada and by third party organizations, and through specific initiatives such as workshops and forums for open dialogue. Some of the related initiatives implemented or supported by the Embassy during 2023 included:

• Online workshops for male managers from Canadian energy companies on the importance and benefits of gender equality in masculinized industries, and the role of male allies.
• Support for a second phase of a study by the Mining & Energy Committee on Voluntary Principles and Human Rights on the opportunities, impact and risks on security and human rights associated with the implementation of the Peace agreement.

Dividends for Gender Equality Initiative: The Embassy of Canada to Colombia partnered with the International Financial Corporation, the Colombian Mining Association and Women in Mining Colombia to deliver a series of workshops in order to provide over 60 participants with the tools to include a gender lens in their work in the extractive sector. The workshops were based on the "Unlocking Opportunities for Women and Business" document, which is meant to provide a toolkit of actions and strategies for oil and gas, and mining companies.

b) Canada's Collaboration with Colombia

Canada is engaged in a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote international standards, guidelines, and best practices with the objective of improving governance in resource-rich developing countries. Canada's approach aims to ensure women, girls, and traditionally marginalized groups are able to engage in decision-making on natural resources governance and overcome discrimination in the administration and distribution of benefits from natural resource development.

Canada and Colombia Actively Collaborate on RBC through the Following Forums and Mechanisms:

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct – National Contact Point Network and OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct. Canada and Colombia are adherents to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines are comprehensive recommendations on responsible business conduct addressed by 51 adherent governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories. Both Canada and Colombia engage on issues related to implementation of the Guidelines as members of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct. Both countries also maintain National Contact Points (“NCPs”) to 1) promote awareness and uptake of the Guidelines; and 2) to help resolve disputes about observance of the Guidelines by multinational enterprises operating in or from their respective territories. In May 2023, Canada and Colombia’s NCPs coordinated to deliver presentations about the OECD Guidelines and the NCP dispute-resolution process during webinars for civil society and business stakeholders in Colombia. The webinars were organized by Canada’s Embassy to Colombia and the office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative (VPI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that oversees the implementation of a set of principles designed to help governments, NGOs and companies in the businesses of extracting, harvesting, or developing natural resources or energy to anticipate and mitigate human rights risks related to the deployment of public and private security. Colombia and Canada have been members of the VPI since 2009. From March 2021 to May 2023, Canada served as Chair of the VPI. Canada recently provided funding to improve the effectiveness of the initiative in addressing the unique human rights risks faced by vulnerable groups through the project “Enhancing Gender Equality through the Voluntary Principles.” The project resulted in the publication of an Implementation Guidance tool. Training on how to use this tool was provided to members of the Initiative at the 2022 annual plenary meeting.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to support improved governance in resource-rich countries through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining. Canada strongly supports the EITI and its aim of strengthening governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.

Colombia joined the EITI in 2014 and the latest EITI report was published in September 2023. This report included sex-disaggregated data on employment in the sector. Colombia's participation in the EITI reflects its commitment to improve transparency and to facilitate dialogue amongst the private sector, civil society and the government. Colombia defined anticorruption, environment, energy transition, and gender as priority themes. The country has offered related training and started to develop projects to target these priorities including in partnership with the World Bank and supporting governments.

c) Dispute Resolution

There are two mechanisms in Canada that can facilitate non-judicial dispute resolution concerning the conduct of Canadian companies abroad:

• National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct: Canada maintains an NCP to facilitate the resolution of disputes concerning observance of the OECD Guidelines by multinational enterprises operating in or from Canada. Canada’s NCP did not handle any cases related to Colombia in the period between January 1 and December 31, 2023. It is important to note that the Republic of Colombia also adheres to the OECD Guidelines and therefore maintains its own NCP to address issues concerning observance of the Guidelines by multinational enterprises operating in or from its territory.
• The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has a mandate to promote respect for human rights and responsible business conduct with Canadian companies working outside of Canada in the garment, mining and oil and gas sectors. The CORE has a complaint mechanism through which impacted individuals, groups, communities and those that represent them can submit complaints about possible human rights abuses involving Canadian companies abroad in the CORE’s three sectors. Complaints can be submitted to the CORE online, by email, by telephone or by mail. The CORE may also offer informal dispute resolution services to Canadian companies. Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, the CORE did not receive any admissible complaints related to the activities of Canadian companies in Colombia. In May 2023, the CORE participated in two (2) webinars with Canada’s National Contact Point (NCP) and the Canadian Embassy staff in Bogota on respect for human rights and responsible business conduct; one webinar was addressed to Colombian civil society organizations and the other, to Canadian garment, mining and oil and gas companies with activities in Colombia.

5.2 Canada’s Export Controls Review Process

Canada has one of the strongest export control systems in the world and respect for human rights is enshrined in the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). In Canada, all permit applications for controlled items are reviewed on a case-by-case basis under a robust risk assessment framework, including against Arms Trade Treaty criteria, which are enshrined in the EIPA.

Under the EIPA, Global Affairs Canada assesses export permit applications for controlled military, dual-use and strategic goods and technology against the ATT Article 7 assessment criteria to determine whether an export:

• would undermine peace and security, or
• could be used to commit or facilitate:
• a serious violation of international humanitarian law;
• a serious violation of international human rights law;
• an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to terrorism to which Canada is a party,
• an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to transnational organized crime to which Canada is a party, or
• serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children.

Under section 7.4 of the EIPA, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall not issue an export permit in respect of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war if, after taking into account all relevant considerations, including available mitigating measures, he or she determines that there is a substantial risk that the export would result in any of the negative consequences referred to in the ATT assessment criteria. Therefore, no export permits for controlled military, dual-use and strategic items will be issued to Colombia if there is a substantial risk that the item could be used to commit or facilitate a serious human rights violation, serious acts of gender-based violence, or serious acts of violence against women and children.

The Andean Region Division at Global Affairs Canada contributes to the review of export control requests related to Colombia. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Embassy of Canada to Colombia’s trade and political sections and any other relevant divisions or officers. In addition to the aforementioned ATT assessment criteria, analysis includes several other considerations, such as the impacts on peace and security in Colombia.

For further information about Canada's export controls and data on Canadian exports of controlled military goods and technology to all destinations, including Colombia, please consult the Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada.

5.3 Export Development Canada's Human Rights Evaluation Methodology

Export Development Canada (EDC) is Canada's export credit agency, with a mandate to support and grow Canadian international trade. EDC fulfills its mandate via trade financing, insurance and investment products catered to Canadian exporters and international buyers of Canadian goods or services. In order to support Canadians doing business abroad, EDC has established a robust set of policies and review mechanisms to ensure transactions supported are reflective of Canadian values. Specifically, EDC’s Human Rights Policy that provides the Crown corporation with principles and commitments that guide its human rights approach and internal decision-making process regarding the transactions it supports. This policy commits EDC to building and using its leverage to prevent and manage human rights impacts that EDC might be connected to through customer relationships, and to enable remedy when impacts occur. EDC has further developed a set of Principles on Leverage and Remedy document that outlines these commitments into practice across EDC's business.

Export Development Canada (EDC) has published all documents related to its Environmental, Social and Governance Policies on its website. Relevant documents include:

• Environmental and Social Risk Management Policy
• Environmental and Social Risk Management Guidelines
• Environmental and Social Review Directive
• Human Rights Policy
• Due Diligence Framework: Human Rights
• Principles on Leverage and Remedy

5.4 Canadian Commercial Corporation's Human Rights Evaluation Methodology

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to assist Canadian exporters sell goods and services abroad to foreign governments and to strengthen bilateral trade relationships between Canada and other nations. One way in which CCC fulfills this role is through government to government (“G2G”) contracting. Through G2G, CCC connects Canadian exporters with foreign government buyers and enters into commercial contracts in the name of the Government of Canada. This reduces the risks associated with international procurement for both the buyers and exporters as CCC takes on contractual matters, due diligence assessments, performance oversight and financial administration of the contract. Backing by the Government of Canada also provides added assurances and incentive for the foreign government buyer to procure from Canada and can create attractive conditions for an exporter’s project financing.

As a federal Crown corporation, CCC strives to operate in a manner consistent with the policies of the Government of Canada, including Canada’s commitments to abide by international human rights principles. CCC is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights and assessing human rights impacts in line with The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to which Canada acceded through Bill C-47: An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code. CCC’s responsible business conduct policies and practices set out its commitment to ensuring the Corporation and the exporters it works with operate in an environmentally, socially, and ethically responsible manner in Canada and abroad. In particular, CCC seeks to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights impacts in its transactions by incorporating human rights into transactional due diligence and risk assessments. CCC also strives to promote cooperation, transparency, and responsible action in international trade with respect to human rights both with its exporters and with foreign government buyers.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) has published its responsible business conduct and human rights policies and due diligence practices on its website including:

• CCC Human Rights Policy
• CCC human rights due diligence instructions
• CCC human rights due diligence guidelines – defence & security
• CCC human rights due diligence exporter questions – defence & security
• CCC human rights due diligence guidelines – infrastructure
• CCC human rights due diligence exporter questions – infrastructure
• CCC Code for Exporters
• CCC Responsible Business Conduct Framework

6. The Canada-Colombia Trade Relationship

The Canada-Colombia trade relationship has strengthened under CCOFTA, which entered into force on August 15, 2011. From 2010, the year before the CCOFTA entered into force, to 2023, total bilateral trade between Canada and Colombia has increased by $1.3 billion or 92%.

Figure 1: Bilateral trade between Canada and Colombia in 2010 and 2019-2023, millions

Data: Statistics Canada
Source: Office of the Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada.

Bilateral services trade totalled $633 million in 2022, which included $382 million Canadian services exports to Colombia and imports that reached $251 million. (Source: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0007-01 International transactions in services, by selected countries, annual (x 1,000,000).

In 2023, total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was valued at $2.6 billion, a decline of 18.4% from the $3.2 billion in 2022. This decline was mainly driven by declining commodity prices.

Canada’s imports from Colombia declined in 2023 to $1.4 billion, down from the peak of $1.9 billion in 2022. This decline was largely driven by declining commodity prices particularly for oil and a change in Canadian imports of gold. While Canadian imports of petroleum oils declined in value from 2022 to 2023, the quantity of petroleum oils purchased increased. This trend in declining oil prices is consistent with the Bank of Canada’s commodity price index which showed a decline in energy prices of 21% between 2022 and 2023. On gold, Canada had a large one-time import of gold from Colombia in 2022 that inflated Canada’s overall imports from Colombia in that year. In 2023 Canada’s gold purchases from Colombia returned to their typical values, which resulted in an overall decline in imports.

Canada’s exports to Colombia also declined slightly in 2023 to $1.2 billion, down from $1.3 billion in 2022. This small decline was almost entirely explained by a decline in exports of wheat, though the quantity of wheat exported was about the same as in 2022. Like the trend in imports, Canada’s decline in exports of wheat largely reflect changing commodity prices, where the price index of agriculture products declined 11% from 2022 to 2023 according to the Bank of Canada. Canada’s exports of a wide range of other products were largely consistent year over year.

7. Canada’s Actions under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2023

The CCOFTA is consistent with Canada's aims to enhance its economic interests in Colombia and to deepen its engagement with Latin American countries. It provides greater stability and predictability for Canadian businesses. The CCOFTA also reduces trade barriers to improve Canada and Colombia's bilateral economic relationship and overall competitiveness by allowing both countries to increase their export potential and access new markets.

7.1 Overview of Actions Taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

A summary of actions taken under the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act between January 1 and December 31, 2023, are in Annex 2.

7.2 Tariff Elimination Schedule

Canada has completed the elimination of tariffs as per its commitments under the CCOFTA with the singular exception of a tariff line for refined sugar, which is subject to a 17-year linear tariff phase-out. As of January 1, 2024, Canada reduced the tariff on refined sugar from $4.11/ton to $2.06 (compared to the Most favoured nation(MFN)tariff, which is $30.86/ton). This tariff will be fully eliminated on January 1, 2025. Given that the tariff reductions implemented on an annual basis were minimal, the impact of these further tariff reductions on Canada's bilateral trade with Colombia can also be expected to be minimal. To date, it has not been possible to draw a link between tariff reductions made by Canada under CCOFTA and human rights abuses in Colombia.

8. Canada’s Actions under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and Environment Agreement

To support Colombia with its efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights, Canada leverages various aspects of its bilateral engagement and programming tools, including those found within the provisions of the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Environment Agreement, as well as through special programming directly related to its free trade relationship with Colombia.

8.1 The Agreement on Labour Cooperation

The Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation commits the parties to ensuring that their laws not only respect the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998), but also provides acceptable protections for occupational health and safety, hours of work, wages and migrant workers. The CCOFTA also includes a principles-based labour chapter.

Specifically, the Labour Cooperation Agreement commits both countries to “promote compliance with and effectively enforce their domestic labour laws through appropriate government actions. These laws must embody the following internationally recognized labour principles and rights”:

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining (including protection of the right to organize and the right to strike);
• the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
• the effective abolition of child labour;
• the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
• acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work and occupational health and safety; and
• providing migrant workers with the same legal protections as citizens in regards to working conditions. 
• Ensure that they do not waive or otherwise derogate from their labour laws in a manner that weakens or reduces adherence to the internationally recognized labour principles as an encouragement for trade or investment.
• Ensure that requests for labour inspections are given due consideration and that a person with a legally-recognized interest has appropriate access to proceedings before a tribunal which can enforce national labour law.
• Make information publicly available in relation to their labour laws and enforcement and compliance procedures.
• Encourage the use of voluntary best practices of responsible business conduct by enterprises.

The Agreement on Labour Cooperation contains institutional mechanisms to ensure its effective implementation. These include a dispute resolution process to ensure compliance with the possibility of up to $15 million in fines for non-compliance in any one year. All monetary assessments would be paid into a cooperation fund to be expended in the territory of the party complained-against in order to address labour issues. The Agreement on Labour Cooperation also provides for a Ministerial Council, comprised of Labour Ministers from both Canada and Colombia, that is required to meet within the first year after its entry into force and thereafter, as necessary, in order to oversee its implementation.

Actions Taken under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation

Projects

The provisions of the Agreement on Labour Cooperation are complemented by concrete actions to address the labour situation in Colombia, notably through labour-related information sharing and technical assistance (TA). In 2023, two technical assistance projects were in place to support the Ministry of Labour of Colombia’s efforts to pursue the implementation of commitments made under the Canada-Colombia Action Plan, which was signed in 2018. One project concluded in May 2023 and the new project initiated activities in March 2023 (see Annex 3 for additional information).  Since the coming into force of the Agreement on Labour Cooperation, the Government of Canada, through the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), has focused on capacity-building, carried out project monitoring missions, and sought other opportunities to foster relationships and encourage effective implementation of the labour obligations under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation. To date, the Labour Program of ESDC has funded labour-related TA projects in Colombia totaling approximately $2,900,000.

Bilateral Dialogue

Since the entry into force of the Agreement on Labour Cooperation, the Canadian and Colombian Ministries of Labour have maintained close relations and ongoing discussions, both at the working and ministerial levels, to advance the bilateral dialogue on implementation of the Labour Agreement and issues of common interest, including monitoring and implementing the Action Plan.

Public Communications

The Agreement on Labour Cooperation also allows for complaints, known as Public Communications, to be raised by citizens, enterprises or organizations, when they believe certain obligations of the Agreement have not been met.

In 2023, the Government of Canada continued working with Colombian counterparts on the implementation of the Action Plan, including pursuing discussions and exchanging information on some key and concrete recommendations put forward by Canada as part of the Action Plan (See Annex 3 for examples).

Moving Forward

Labour Program officials will continue working actively with their Colombian counterparts on the implementation of the Action Plan to ensure progress is made by the Government of Colombia and guarantee the protection of fundamental labour rights.

8.2 The Environment Agreement

The Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement), signed in parallel to the CCOFTA, reinforces the concept that free trade should not take place at the expense of the environment. The CCOFTA itself also includes an environment chapter and environment provisions. The Environment Agreement commits both countries to encouraging high levels of domestic environmental protection, to fostering good environmental governance, to continuing to develop and improve their environmental laws and policies, and to promoting transparency and public participation. It requires each country to:

• effectively enforce its domestic environmental laws through appropriate government actions;
• neither weaken nor reduce levels of protection afforded in its domestic environmental laws to encourage trade or investment;
• ensure that proceedings are available to sanction or remedy violations of its environmental laws;
• ensure that interested persons residing in, or established in its territory may request investigations of alleged violations of its environmental laws, and to give such requests due consideration, in accordance with its law;
• promote public awareness and transparency by ensuring that information regarding environmental laws and policies is available to the public;
• ensure that environmental impact assessment processes are in place;
• encourage the use of voluntary best practices of responsible business conduct by enterprises;
• promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; and
• respect, preserve, and maintain traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and local communities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, subject to national legislation.

The Environment Agreement commits both countries to make every attempt, through consultations, exchange of information, and an emphasis on cooperation, to address any matter concerning the environment, which may arise between them. If the countries fail to resolve the matter, either of them may seek consultations at the ministerial level.

Actions Taken under the Environment Agreement

Bilateral Dialogue

The Environment Agreement provides a framework within which to address key environmental issues of joint interest via the creation of a Committee on the Environment. The Committee on the Environment, composed of senior officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, meets on an as-needed basis. Canada hosted the last meeting of the Committee on the Environment, on May 16, 2018 in Gatineau, Quebec. At this meeting, Canadian and Colombian officials reviewed the bilateral and regional initiatives carried out within the Environment Agreement’s framework, undertook a policy dialogue on environmental priorities, and began work on setting priorities for future cooperative activities. The discussions prioritized the following areas for cooperation: 1) chemicals management; 2) conserving biodiversity; 3) mitigating environmental impacts of mining; and 4) management and reduction of forest fires. Canada will host the next meeting of the Committee on the Environment in March 2024.

Projects

With the goal of promoting high levels of environmental protection, the Environment Agreement provides a framework within which to undertake environmental cooperation activities aimed at supporting its objectives and obligations, typically through technical exchanges and information sharing. Under the Environment Agreement, both countries have implemented projects of joint interest in the areas of climate change, biodiversity conservation, clean technologies, chemical management, the electrification of transportation, and Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, among others. 

In 2023, Colombia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), which Canada co-leads with the United Kingdom. In joining, Colombia committed to work with the PPCA to develop a plan for phasing out unabated coal power on timelines required to meet Paris goals, while at the same time charting a just transition for affected workers and communities in coal regions.

Projects funded through Climate Finance

In 2023, Canada continued to implement its $5.3 billion climate financing commitment to help developing countries transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive development, focusing on mitigation and adaptation support to the poorest and most vulnerable populations impacted by climate change. Canada’s climate finance commitment also supports developing countries in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. This commitment builds on the success of Canada's previous $2.65 billion climate finance support, which was delivered through a number of multilateral and bilateral initiatives.

Canada is providing climate finance support to Colombia through a number of multilateral organizations, including its $450 million contribution to the second replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF-2), and its $74 million contribution to the 8^th replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which fund national projects in Colombia. For example, the GCF is providing targeted support to Colombia through an investment of US$38.5 million (with a total project value of US$117.2 million) in support of scaling up climate resilient water management practices in La Mojana, one of the poorest and most climate vulnerable regions in Colombia. Canada is also providing support to Colombia through its $2.2 million contribution to support the phase-down of HFCs, in Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Peru and Senegal. 

Moreover, Environment and Climate Change Canada is delivering a $4.5 million program (2022 to 2026) to strengthen and harmonize climate measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system capacity in the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru) and Ecuador, specifically for climate finance, mitigation action, and carbon pricing.

This builds on a previous $1.6 million investment from 2017 to 2022 to enable Pacific Alliance member countries to build the domestic capacity to harmonize and improve the effectiveness of their national climate MRV systems and to use those results to define regional priorities to make progress toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Building on this past success, this new project will enable Pacific Alliance member countries and Ecuador to make effective economy-wide decisions on climate actions, put a price on carbon, access international carbon markets, and mobilize public and private investments to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. It supports countries’ efforts toward becoming a more competitive and inclusive region and deepens our mutual commitment to inclusive trade (see Annex 4 for project details).

9. Consultations

In accordance with the tenets of open and accountable government, the Government of Canada has continued to consult broadly in the preparation of this report.

9.1 Public Consultations

On February 12, 2024, the Government of Canada launched a public consultations process calling for written submissions in English, French, or Spanish on the impact of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the Government of Canada’s 13th annual report. The Government of Canada was also interested in receiving written feedback regarding the adjustments that have been made to the format, content and methodology of Canada’s annual reports over the past three years, following the phased three-year plan.

The public call for submissions was posted online on the Global Affairs Canada website and the Consultations of Other Types of Agreements and Initiatives page, all for a period of 4 weeks. The public consultation was also promoted via social media through the official Canada Trade channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), as well as the official channels of the Embassy of Canada to Colombia (Twitter and Facebook). Key stakeholders also notified directly of the public call for submissions through e-mail. The Government of Canada received no written submissions.

9.2 Consultations with Provinces and Territories

The Government of Canada consulted with provincial and territorial governments on whether any of their respective human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments, questions or expressions of concern regarding any effects on human rights in Canada related to Canada's tariff reductions under the CCOFTA during the period January 1 to December 31, 2023. The Government of Canada received feedback from eight provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan) indicating that none of their human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments or expressions of concern. Since the entry into force of CCOFTA on August 15, 2011, no concerns have been registered via these mechanisms.

10. Conclusion

The Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia has to date required the parties to provide a summary of actions taken under the CCOFTA and related side agreements and provide an analysis of any impact these actions may have had on human rights in Canada and Colombia.

As has been the case in previous years, the 13^th annual report is unable to demonstrate that any actions taken by the Government of Canada in 2023 through the implementation of the CCOFTA (i.e. tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA as well as actions taken under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation or the Environment Agreement) have had a direct impact on human rights in Canada or Colombia.

Annexes

Annex 1: Canada's Merchandise Trade with Colombia, 2001-2023, millions.^{Footnote 24}

Source: Statistics Canada

Annex 2: Actions taken by Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act

Annex 3: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement

This section includes cooperation projects undertaken by Canada with Colombia, which began in 2019 and were implemented throughout 2023.

Institutional Strengthening to Promote Compliance with Labour Rights in Colombia (2019-2023)

Support provided: $830,000

This project concluded in May 2023 and was implemented by the International Labour Organization. Through this project, Canada provided support to the Colombian Ministry of Labour by modernizing its trade union registration/certification system. The implementation of the system has strengthened the Ministry's capacity to improve the overall protection of collective rights in Colombia.

Supporting the involvement of labour stakeholders in Colombia’s labour reform process (2023-2025)

Support provided: $635,000

Implemented by the International Labour Organization, this project aims to support the Government of Colombia’s efforts to promote increased participation in the formulation of public policies and the drafting of proposed bills aimed at reforming Colombia's labour laws. This project involves trade unions and other labour stakeholders and civil society organizations, including those representing vulnerable groups, indigenous communities, and women. Additionally, it closely monitors the ongoing legislative deliberations, among other responsibilities. The project also aims to enhance the abilities of labour inspectors, judges, and judicial officials to enforce workers’ rights effectively during and after the implementation of the reform.

Annex 4: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Agreement on the Environment

This section includes a selection of environmental cooperation activities undertaken by Canada with Colombia.

Bilateral Support for Implementation and Achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Pacific Alliance (2022-2026)

Support provided: $4.5 million

Canada provides support for the implementation and achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Pacific Alliance through strengthening and harmonizing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems.

Following the June 2017 Cali Declaration in which the Pacific Alliance reaffirmed its support for the Paris Agreement and commitment to intensify efforts to strengthen MRV systems of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and Short-Lives Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in the region, Canada announced $1.6 million in 2017 to increase domestic capacity to harmonize and improve the effectiveness of their national climate MRV systems. Additional funding of $1.9 million was invested in 2019 to support South-South cooperation on MRV within and between the Pacific Alliance and West Africa.

Supported by Canada, the Technical Sub-group on MRV and Climate Change (SGT-MRV) was created by the countries of the Pacific Alliance with the principal objective to enable the exchange of knowledge at the regional level in order to strengthen and advance the harmonization and alignment of Climate MRV systems for the reduction of GHG and SLCPs and to strengthen capacity at the national level in order to advance the creation and implementation of effective climate policies.

Building on this past success, Canada announced a $4.5 million investment from 2022 to 2026, to strengthen MRV system capacity in the Pacific Alliance and Ecuador for carbon pricing, MRV of mitigation action, and MRV of climate finance. This project aims at accelerating climate mitigation strategies to implement NDCs, increase credibility by ensuring transparency, accuracy, and comparability of information, and mobilize investments necessary to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Annex 5: Public Consultations

Public consultations: Call for submissions regarding Canada’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia

Current status: Closed

Stakeholders have until March 12, 2024, to submit their responses, comments and suggestions.

The Government of Canada is seeking the input of interested stakeholders pursuant to the Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

This unique agreement requires that Canada and Colombia each draft an annual report for tabling in their respective legislatures on the impacts on human rights in Canada and Colombia of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Purpose of consultation

• Interested stakeholders are invited to provide written submissions on the impact of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the Government of Canada’s 13th annual report. The 13th annual report will cover the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
• The Government of Canada is also interested in receiving written feedback regarding the adjustments that have been made to the format, content and methodology of Canada’s annual reports over the past three years, following the phased three-year plan.

Who should participate?

This consultation is open to the public and everyone is invited to share their ideas.

The Government of Canada invites any stakeholder with an interest in the impact on human rights in Canada and Colombia of actions taken by the Government of Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement to provide input.

Global Affairs Canada would like to hear from:

• the general public;
• civil society organizations;
• academia;
• Indigenous groups;
• national and provincial industry associations;
• micro, small, medium and large enterprises;
• national, provincial, territorial and regional associations;
• other interested stakeholders.

It is important to have a breadth and diversity of views represented through this consultation process.

For reasons of confidentiality and security, the submissions and names of contributors to this consultation process will not be released to the public by the Government of Canada.

How to participate?

• Submissions can be sent by e-mail, with the subject “Public Call for Submissions - Annual Report on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia”, to: NLA@international.gc.ca
• Submissions must be sent by Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Related information

• The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) also includes the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, under its parameters. These agreements entered into force on August 15, 2011.
• All of Canada’s previous annual reports on Human Rights and Free Trade are available online: Annual report on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

Contact us

Andean Region Division (NLA)
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0G2
NLA@international.gc.ca

Annex 6: Canada's International Assistance Programming

The following projects are examples of Canada's International Assistance Programming in Colombia through which support is provided for human rights.

Beyond Borders: Safe spaces for Girls and Improving Education in Colombia –Venezuela Border (2019-2023)

Support provided: $12 million

The Beyond Borders project, implemented by Save the Children Canada, aims to improve the realization of the right to safe, gender-responsive, quality learning for girls affected by crisis and conflict in the Colombia-Venezuela border region. Aligned with GAC's Charlevoix G7 Education Initiative, the project will focus on achieving three specific intermediate outcomes:

1. Increasing equitable access (enrollment and retention) to safe, quality, gender-responsive education for crisis-affected girls;
2. Improving equitable provision of safe, quality, gender-responsive primary and lower secondary education for girls; and
3. Improving policy planning, implementation and coordination in Colombia for safe, quality and gender-responsive education for girls along the border region.

United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Post-Conflict in Colombia (2016-2023)

Support provided: $27.3 million

The United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund project, administered via the United Nations Development Programme, supports the Government of Colombia's peace implementation efforts via technical assistance and rapid-response initiatives in communities directly affected by armed conflict. Areas of support include demining, transitional justice, governance, prevention and management of local conflicts, and reintegration and socio-economic development of former combatants. Assistance is delivered via United Nations agencies in Colombia, Colombian and international non-governmental organizations and the Government of Colombia.

Landmine Action in Colombia (2016-2023)

Support provided: $12.5 million

The Landmine Action in Colombia project, implemented by The Halo Trust, conducts humanitarian demining activities in ten mine-affected municipalities. It recruits, trains and deploys civilian landmine survey and manual clearance teams from local communities, including ex-combatants. By surveying vulnerable communities and removing landmines in targeted municipalities, the project helps prevent further accidents; identify safe areas for land restitution; enables the return of internally displaced persons; and restores access to farmland, public services, and safe routes to markets and schools. The project will benefit over 27,000 people living in some of Colombia's poorest rural municipalities. It will also create safe conditions for 60,000 displaced persons to return home safely.

Delivering Rights for Girls through Improved Comprehensive Sexuality Education (2018-2024)

Support provided: $10 million

The "Valiente" project, implemented by Profamilia, will reach 7,800 boys and girls aged 10 to 14 in 55 schools to increase their decision-making power and leadership to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, improve provision and access to rights-based and gender sensitive, youth friendly services, and promote positive transformations in attitudes and behaviours around gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. At least 240 government officials will improve their delivery capacity in sexual and reproductive health and rights with youth as well.

Women's Voice and Leadership – Colombia (2019-2024)

Support provided: $5 Million

This project is part of Canada's Women's Voice and Leadership Program, which supports local and regional women's organizations and networks that are working to promote women's rights, and advance women's empowerment and gender equality in developing countries. This is done by supporting their activities, building their institutional capacity, and promoting network and alliance-building as women's rights and feminist organizations are critical agents of change. The Program also responds to the globally recognized, significant gap in funding and support to women's rights organizations and movements around the world. This project is implemented by Oxfam-Québec in rural conflict-affected regions of Colombia.

Budgeting for Equality: an Alliance for Public Management Planning with a Gender Perspective (2022-2024)

Support provided: $1 million

This initiative contributes to promote women’s and girl's rights in Colombia and to close the gender gaps exacerbated by the pandemic, by supporting the systematic and sustainable integration of gender quality considerations into national and local planning and budgeting processes. It will help strengthen the capacity of women’s rights organizations to advocate for the inclusion of their recommendations in the new National Development Plan 2022-2026 and effectively monitor the gender budget tracker; include the gender budget tracker in the next National Development Plan and key policy instruments to account for the resources allocated by the State to guarantee women’s rights and gender equality; and pilot the gender budget tracker in selected municipalities.

Caring Societies: sharing care responsibilities to advance gender equality (2023-2028)

Support provided: $7,450,000

The initiative contributes to the building of local Comprehensive Care Systems in Colombia. It is focusing on (1) recognizing the value and unequal distribution of paid and unpaid care workload, to ignite interventions that address the existing injustice; (2) redistribution of care wokloads , that depend on the central role of public institutions as well as the involvement of the private sector and families (especially men and boys) to change the unequal gender norms that underlay unfair care; and (3) to reduce the care workload for women and young women, especially those that belong to populations groups that are left behind.

Education for Venezuelan and Host Communities, Girls, Boys and Adolescents in Colombia, Ecuador & Peru (Education Cannot Wait) (2022-2025)

Support provided: $9 million ($3,025,000 for Colombia)

This project supports an inclusive response to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant situation through tailored technical assistance to the governments of Colombia and Peru.

Technical Assistance for the Implementation of Policy and Programmatic Responses for the Socio-Economic Integration of Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia and Peru (2022-2023)

Support provided: $4 million ($2,700,000 for Colombia)

This project supports an inclusive response to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant situation through tailored technical assistance to the governments of Colombia and Peru.  It is linked to the World Bank’s Human Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

ELLA: Empowerment, Local Leadership & Accountability for Venezuelan & Host Community Adolescent Girls and Young Women (2022-2025)

Support provided: $9 million ($3,454,245 for Colombia)

This project enhances Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for women and girls from Venezuela and host community members in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Protection and Socioeconomic Inclusion for Venezuelan Children and Adolescents on the Move (2022-2024)

Support provided: $5 million ($1.5 million for Colombia)

This project aims to increase protection of Venezuelan girls, boys and adolescents on the move through improving national protection mechanisms and increasing access to protection services.

Supporting OAS Member States’ Efforts to Prevent, Investigate and Counter Criminal Activity linked to the Exploitation of Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants (2022-2024)

Support provided: $1,999,265 ($333,211 for Colombia)

The project seeks to strengthen border management practices in order to increase the detection of irregular movements of goods and people, with a focus on criminal activities such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

IDB Migration Grant Facility (2022-2024)

Support provided: $8 million ($2.24 million for Colombia)

This project aims to support governments and municipalities in the Latin America and Caribbean region hosting Venezuelan refugees and migrants, through technical assistance to enhance the socio-economic integration of this population into host communities. Individual projects currently under negotiation.

PRO-RIGHTS: Promoting the Rights of Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2025)

Support provided: $2,282,215 ($1,095,463 for Colombia)

The PRO-RIGHTS project takes an intersectional approach to address the needs of the Venezuelan migrant and refugee population. In Colombia, it strengthens the capacity of governments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, particularly of children in virtual settings and in trafficking contexts. At the regional level, it seeks to improve access to protection and support by Victims of Human Trafficking in countries hosting Venezuelan refugees and migrants and conducts prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) capacity assessments and provides mentorship to civil society organizations to prevent, mitigate the risks of, and respond to SEA.

Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) (2018-2025)

Support provided: $16.5 million

The Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) is now fully operational and accessible to eligible developing partner countries, including initiatives with Colombia. EDM is a responsive and demand-driven mechanism, therefore a specific budget is not assigned to each country.

The EDM is designed to contribute to poverty reduction by deploying Canadian and international technical experts to assist developing countries negotiate, implement, adapt to, and benefit from their trade and investment agreements with Canada. ODA-eligible countries with which Canada shares a trade and investment agreement agenda are eligible to submit a request for technical assistance under the EDM.

Rural Entrepreneurship for Women in Agricultural Rural Development (2023-2027)

Support provided: $3.1 million

The project aims to improve the sustainable livelihoods and economic well-being especially for women entrepreneurs, their families and their communities in conflict-affected and poverty-stricken rural areas of Colombia. The project will employ a in a two-pronged approach that combines Acumen’s expertise in investing in rural, post-conflict areas and in leadership development to increase the viability of rural businesses, enhance the effectiveness of financial investment instruments for rural businesses, and increase the decision-making capacity and influence of women entrepreneurs and social leaders in rural businesses and community-led organizations.

Catalyzing Impact Investment for Development in Rural Colombia (SI2 Investment Readiness Platform) (2022-2026)

Support provided: $4.1 million

The project seeks to establish an Investment Readiness Platform (“Colombia SI2”) within Colombia that will provide capital and capacity support for enterprises, cooperatives, organizations and funds seeking to start or scale their impact, with a particular focus on rural regions in Colombia and enterprises serving women. The proposed initiative would consolidate Colombia’s social impact investing ecosystem and act as a catalyzer for Colombia’s impact investing sector to advance toward maturity, while unlocking private capital for development goals.

DID – Credit to Rural Women and Youth (2019 to 2024)

Support provided: $5 million

This project aims to improve economic opportunities and living conditions of over 90% of the targeted population and their communities in rural Colombia by increasing their access to credit and spurring a systemic shift in rural financing. The intermediate outcomes are:

1. more efficient and improved management of financial mechanisms focused on rural women and youth;
2. more effective delivery of financial services to women and youth, and;
3. improved business and wealth management by women and youth in rural areas.

Colombian Cacao Agropreneurs (2018 to 2025)

Support provided: $19.5 million

The project aims to create sustainable livelihoods by increasing the incomes of 5,000 smallholder cacao farming families by strengthening the management practices of these businesses and their associations/cooperatives and facilitating the emergence and consolidation of associative businesses that are innovative, clean, sustainable and inclusive. Co-financed with the private sector, it is the first in the Government of Canada to use the Outcome Achievement Payment funding model included in the 2017 Treasury Board Generic Terms and Conditions in support of innovation, according to which the implementer is only paid on results (rather than activities).

OFFER – Outcome Fund for Education Results (2022-2028)

Support provided: $20 million

When fully operational, the Outcome Fund for Education Results (OFFER) will be a public-private sector Fund that will create a marketplace for affordable education solutions to be scaled up for the most vulnerable in Colombia. It will strengthen the education ecosystem and improve education public policy, using a results-based payment and innovative financing approach to achieve greater impact. Canada has formed an Alliance with Colombia's Ministry of National Education and four private investors/foundations to advance the design and secure funding.

Women in Trade for Inclusive Growth (2019-2024)

Support provided: 12 million total ($236,330 for Colombia)

The project aims to increase the number of women from developing countries involved in international trade as exporters and aims to increase the share of exports generated by women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The project seeks to address the main constraints faced by women exporters including limited skills, resources and networks to be able to access global trade markets, and low levels of involvement as members and leaders of trade support institutions. The project aims to focus on particular sectors, including fresh fruits and vegetables, processed foods, and niche market artisan products and services, as there are favourable opportunities for employment creation for women in these sectors.

Countering Disinformation within Civic Education in Colombia and Chile (2021-2024)

Support provided: $2 million ($1.8 million for Colombia)

This project works to strengthen the capacities of youth and teachers through civic education in Colombia and Chile, through the coordination of four programs: Voto Estudiantil (“Student Vote”), which is delivered in conjunction with government elections to provide students with a teachable moment; Marea Púrpura (“Purple Tide”), which aims to bridge the gap on gender equality by fostering the participation of young women (ages 14-18) in the public sphere; Liderab, a Youth Leadership Program that includes mentorships to support the political aspirations of young women; and CTRL-F, a digital literacy program to help youth recognize and combat disinformation.