UN experts warn Colombia’s anti-drug push risks deepening discrimination against Afro-Colombians

# What the UN found

Enforcement visited Bogotá, Quibdó, Cartagena and Cali in May and concluded that systemic racism is embedded in Colombia's law enforcement and criminal justice institutions. The report says racial stereotypes continue to link Afro-Colombians — notably young people — with drug trafficking, danger and criminality. Those stereotypes affect routine policing decisions such as stops, searches, fines, detention and access to justice.

Colombia to reduce racialised harms in anti-drug efforts:

• Impose a moratorium on police summons and related fines until their human-rights impact has been assessed.
• Cancel outstanding fines that contribute to cycles of exclusion and criminalization among young Afro-Colombians.
• Avoid responses that rely primarily on punishment, militarisation and incarceration.
• Ensure any new security units or measures are governed by clear legal safeguards, independent oversight and accountability mechanisms.

The experts warned that proposals for "urban security defence units" could increase racial profiling, stigmatization and police violence unless they include robust oversight and accountability.

# Context on Colombia's drug situation

The expert warnings come as Colombia faces international and domestic pressure to step up action against drug trafficking, armed groups and criminal organisations. The country has said it will continue cooperating with the United States on anti-drug operations, including intelligence and technology support.

Colombian officials present a law-and-order response. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti has highlighted continued coordination with the United States. Justice Minister Andrés Idárraga said operations will target drug laboratories, criminal organisations and camps, particularly along the Colombian–Venezuelan border.

# Why the UN mechanism sees risk

# Practical implications for policy and oversight

Medium term: design anti-drug operations with explicit anti-discrimination safeguards, transparent rules of engagement, and independent oversight structures with complaint and accountability channels.

Longer term: shift some drug-control responses toward public health and community-based approaches that reduce criminalisation and address root causes identified in the report.

# Where this leaves stakeholders

Government officials assert a need for stronger action against trafficking. The UN mechanism urges Colombia to meet that goal without replicating systemic racial biases in law enforcement. The experts' recommendations focus on policy changes and oversight measures that could reduce discriminatory outcomes while still allowing targeted anti-drug work.