UN experts warn Colombia's drug policies may deepen racial discrimination

A United Nations mechanism of independent experts has called on Colombia to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the health, food security, and environmental impacts before resuming aerial fumigation of illicit crops. The experts warned that the new government's intensified approach to combating armed groups and drug trafficking could deepen systemic racism and the criminalization of Afro-descendant populations.

In a report presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the experts noted that Afro-Colombian communities have historically been disproportionately affected by punitive and militarized security policies. They emphasized that stereotypes linking Afro-descendant youth to criminality continue to influence police interactions and access to justice. The mechanism urged that security and drug policies incorporate an ethnic-racial perspective, respect human rights, and ensure the meaningful participation of affected communities.

During visits to Bogotá, Quibdó, Cartagena, and Cali, the mechanism documented testimonies regarding unjustified police stops and searches, as well as allegations of excessive or lethal use of force. The report highlighted that security measures must be grounded in public health and human rights to avoid repeating historical patterns of discrimination.