Human rights in Colombia

13 October 2004

Colombian human rights campaigner, lawyer Dr Alirio Uribe Munoz, will discuss the battle for human rights in his native Colombia, at a lecture to be co-hosted by Monash University tonight, Wednesday 13 October.

The lecture, 'Promoting human rights in hostile environments: fighting for labour and human rights in Colombia', was organised by the Monash University Castan Centre for Human Rights Law and the International Centre for Trade Union Rights.

Dr Munoz was awarded the 2003 Martin Ennals Human Rights Award for his work as the head of a lawyers' collective that defends prisoners, the politically persecuted, workers and victims of human rights abuses in the Latin American country.

Human rights sources report that there have been more than 300,000 assassinations in Colombia, including about 20,000 politically motivated killings, over the past decade. Dr Munoz's collective works to bring the perpetrators to justice, and gain redress for victims and their families.

What: Lecture on human rights in Colombia
When: Wednesday 13 October, 6pm -- 7.15pm
Where: Council Chambers, Victorian Trades Hall, Carlton.

For more information, call Ms Robyn Anns, Media Communications, Monash University on, + 61 3 9905 9317 or 0417 569 781; or Ms Jodi Rockman, Monash Law faculty on, + 61 3 9905 2630.